CHAP. I. Of the Thirsty disease.

THIS is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, sitio, to be thirsty. In Latin 'tis cal∣led sitis morbosa.

Thirst is the first natural Passion of Man∣kind, and also of Beasts; as is manifest by their first sucking milk out of the Breast to asswage it.

The causes of thirst augmented, are either * external or internal.

The external are the Air over heated by Page  142 the Sun, over salt Food, too much exercise of body, vehement passions of the mind, as much anger, &c. prolong'd watches, the Bo∣dy either too costive, or too loose, much sweating, Urine voided too plentifully, a∣ny notable Evacuation of Bloud, Milk or Seed, &c.

The internal Cause is deduced (for the most part) from too sharp Choler, carried down into the small Gut; where it raiseth such an Effervescency with the Juice of the Pancreas flowing thither, that thence are elevated salt Vapours to the Stomach and Gullet, and there produceth a sense of drought.

It may also pierce through the lacteal Vessels, and so to the Heart, and infect the Bloud too much with its Saltness, whence the Spittle, and the other Humours also be∣come too salt, by which a great Thirst is stirred up and augmented.

The signs are manifest, for the Patient's * complaint for want of drink, will inform you.

This distemper may be cured by such acid * Liquours, and oily Emulsions, which will dilute the Lixivial Salt of Choler, and po∣tently change its Acrimony, and asswage its sharpness, and deduce it to the Bladder.

The following Julep may serve for Ex∣ample.

Page  143 Take Tincture of Red-roses, Barley-water, * of each twelve ounces; Cinamon-water two ounces, Syrup of Violets three ounces, Salt Prunella two drachms; mix it, and give the sick three spoonfulls every two hours.

This Emulsion is also of great Virtue, not onely to restrain Thirst, but mildly to pro∣cure rest also.

Take of French-barly boiled four ounces; * sweet Almonds blanched; white Poppy-seeds, of each two ounces; let them be well beaten in a stone Mortar; then with two Quarts of Barley-water, the Waters of Cinamon and Fennel, of each two ounces; make an Emul∣sion; to which add Julep of Roses four oun∣ces, Syrups of Violets, and the Juice of Lim∣mons, of each two ounces; mix it.

Let the party thirsting, drink a moderate draught of this Emulsion, often in a day, which will be very acceptable.

You may also make gratefull Troches, or Pellets of Sugar, and Salt Prunella, to be kept in the Mouth, to deceive the Thirst.

If salt serous matter abound in the Body, purge it by Stool or Urine.

This gratefull Medicine may serve for both intentions.

Take the Roots of Flower-de-luce, Parsley, * China, of each two ounces; Dandelion, Agri∣mony, of each one handfull; Senna one ounce; Rhubarb half an ounce; Agarick, Turky, Page  144 Turbith, Jallap, of each three drachms; Cinamon, Cloves, of each two drachms; let them be cleansed, bruised and infused in two quarts of White-wine, for the space of twenty four hours, then strain it, and add Syrup of the five opening. Roots four ounces; of which you may give the sick four ounces every third day in the morning fasting.

If there be a salt Catarrh, it may be tem∣per'd with Pills of Styrax, you may admi∣nister a Pill every Night going to bed.

Let the Patient's diet be Mutton or Veal∣broth, without Salt.

CHAP. II. Of Hunger vitiated.

HUnger may be called the Appetite of Meats, as Thirst is of Drinks.

It may be many ways deprav'd, viz. when it is augmented, diminish'd, or abolish'd.

Hunger augmented may be deprav'd two ways, either in quantity or quality; if it be in quantity, there is more Nourishment de∣sired than the Stomach can digest.

This distemper is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ex 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 fames; quod affatim edatur.

Page  145 It is called by the Latines fames canina, and in English Dog's appetite; because in this distemper the sick do feed insatiably; after which some do purge and vomit like Dogs; and are presently hungry again, and sick if they do not eat.

If hunger be deprav'd in quality, then vi∣tious things, which are not Food, (as Coals, Ashes, Clay, Turfs, Leather, and I know not what) are desired.

This is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and Pica also * in Latin; ab ave Pica, vel quod varia appetant, ut Pica varii est Coloris, vel ex eo quod & Pi∣ca terram mandet.

If this distemper be in Women with Child, * it is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and in Latin also Gravidarum malacia, which is an inordinate longing in them, of which I shall treat more at large in the Chapter of the Hypochondri∣ack suffocation.

Hunger diminish'd is caused of too fat and * viscous Spittle, swallowed down (by little and little) into the Stomach; and being un∣fit to promote the fermentation of Food, it passeth into the small guts, and there gene∣rates viscous Phlegm like to it self, which doth not onely dull the moderate acidity of the Juice of the Pancreas, but thereby at length all the acidity in the Body becomes less sharp and dull.

Page  146 Choler also being too fat, arising from the small Gut, to the Stomach, doth there cor∣rupt both the remainders of Food and Spit∣tle, and prostrates their gratefull acidity by which means the Appetite becomes dull.

These causes being complicated, if they be most grievous; will at length quite take away and abolish Hunger.

The cause of Hunger augmented is some∣times * worms in the Stomach, which devour the Chylus; but most commonly it is caused by the over-sourness of the Juice of the Pan∣creas abounding in the Body, and chiefly in the small Gut; whence it sendeth sour Va∣pours to the Stomach, which do potently urge and increase the sense of hunger.

The cause of hunger deprav'd in quality, * (as Pica, &c. in Women) is the suppressi∣on of their monthly Courses, which is more or less corrupted about the Womb, and ha∣ving not its natural Evacuation, it returneth, and (in circulation) is mixed with the whole Mass of Bloud, by which it is all vitiated, and deprav'd; and so produceth a Cachexy, or ill habit of Body, which in time corrupteth all the other humours; from whence not onely hunger, but all the functions are de∣prav'd.

Hunger augmented needs no other sign, * than the devouring of Food.

Page  147 The signs of Hunger deprav'd in quality are also manifest, as the longing desire for those things which are not food, as Coals, &c. before mention'd.

If these distempers continue long, they * are difficult of Curation, because the sick will easily fall into a Cachexy, Dropsie, Con∣sumption, Vomiting, Fluxes, &c.

Hunger increas'd, may be cur'd by giving those things which destroy, and do tempe∣rate and amend the over acidity of the Juice of the Pancreas, and do prevent its increase.

There are variety of Medicines (proper for these intentions) prescrib'd in the 6th. and 7th. pages of the first Book.

If hunger be diminish'd, or abolish'd, it may be cur'd by Medicines that correct and educe the viscous Phlegmatick humours, of which you may be throughly furnish'd in the 3d. and 4th. pages.

If hunger be suddenly diminish'd by Cho∣ler, either over fat, or abounding in plenty; * it may commodiously be evacuated by an Antimonial Emetick. Many other proper Medicines are set down in the 8th. and 9th. pages.

CHAP. III. Of want of Appetite, or loathing of Vic∣tuals.

WAnt of Appetite is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ex 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, sine, & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 appetitus.

In Latin 'tis called inappetentia, because in this distemper the sick hath no desire af∣ter food, but their minds are averse to, yea they loath most kind of meat and drink, which sometimes riseth to that height, that it takes away their strength.

This differs from vomiting onely in de∣grees, it being a desire to vomit up whatso∣ever troubles the Stomach, but cannot, ei∣ther by reason of weakness, or toughness of the matter. *

Loathing is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ex 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Navis, quod navigantibus proecipue contingit.

All loathing is either natural, or adven∣titious.

The natural (for the most part) is common to Women with Child; wherein 'tis thought by some, that the mind of the Child in the Womb is affected, as well in this distemper, as in the disease called Malacia, or longing; wherein if the Woman have not presently what the longs for, wheresoever she first puts Page  149 her hand on any part of her body, in that part the Child is mark'd, as we may see often by experience.

The adventitious loathing, or that which cometh by accident, is stir'd up in healthy People by prejudice, they esteeming some sorts of food ungratefull, or prejudicial to their Health, and therefore their Stomachs loath them.

Sometimes nauseousness, and loathing e∣ven to vomiting, immediately follows In∣temperance in eating and drinking, which is dangerous.

That we may the better judge of the causes of this distemper, let us first consider what is the natural Cause of Hunger, by which we may the easier discover it.

I judge the chief Cause of natural hunger to be the remainders of food fermented in the Stomach, and the longer it stays there, it is still more and more fermented by the Spit∣tle; which is continually swallowed down, and intermix'd with it; and at length it raiseth a somewhat sour and gratefull Vapour, which pleasingly affects the upper Orifice of the Stomach, and so natural hunger seems to be produc'd.

And if food be with-held somewhat longer than ordinary, then this hunger is increas'd even in healthy People; which I think is promoted and augmented by the Juice of the Page  150 Pancreas, having a friendly Effervescency with Choler and Phlegm in the small Guts, from whence sour and gratefull Vapours are sent to the Stomach, which increaseth hun∣ger; and if food be seldom taken, it may proceed to fainting fits.

Hence we may gather, that if there be a * vitious Effervescency of the aforesaid hu∣mours in the small Guts, then vitious Va∣pours are thence produc'd, which rising up to the Stomach, and other parts adjacent, not onely diminish hunger, but more or less deprave Thirst, as also the senses of tasting and smelling; hence it is that the sick do loath all sorts of food, as soon as they smell, taste or see it.

1. Want of Appetite or Loathing is a di∣gression * from the natural State, and is there∣fore dangerous; and is worse in Children than Adults, because they require more Nourishment.

2. In all diseases this is an evil Symptome, and if the sick recover and want Appetite, or loath their Food, there is danger of a re∣lapse.

This distemper (either in healthy People, or those that are sick) may be cur'd, *

• 1. First by freeing the mind from every prejudice.
• 2. By correcting or purging out the vi∣tious and peccant humours.

Page  151 If the Humours incline upward, they may be safely carried out by an Antimonial vomit; and after the operation, at night go∣ing to bed, let the sick take this Cordial Opiate.

Take the Waters of Damask-roses, Baum * and Cinamon, of each one ounce; Syrup of Clove-gilliflowers, red Poppies, of each half an ounce; Confectio Alkermes half a drachm; Laudanum opiat. four grains; Oil of Vitriol six drops; mix it.

But if the humours be very viscous, (and the Stomach be not nauseous) let them be purged out by stool, with such Medicines as have power to alter, amend and evacuate the vitious humours.

For example.

Take of the Decoction of Senna Gereonis * four ounces; the best Manna, Syrups of Epi∣thymum, Roses Solutive with Senna, of each half an ounce; mix it for two Doses, to be taken in the Morning fasting.

After purging, the Stomach must be strengthned; which may be done by this excellent Diet-drink.

Take the Roots of China, Sarzeparilla, of * each eight ounces; Guiacum two pound; Ci∣namon, Mace, Nutmegs, of each one ounce; Raisins of the Sun stoned one pound; Anise∣seed, Page  152 Liquorish, of each one ounce and half; let them be bruised and infused in two Gal∣lons of Fountain-water very hot, for the space of twenty four hours, then boil it to the consumption of the third part; strain it, and add Syrups of Cinamon, and of the Juice of Rasberries, of each four ounces; mix it, and let it be put into Bottles.

The sick may drink four ounces of it three times in a day.

Also candied Ginger, and Nutmegs pre∣serv'd are good to corroborate the Stomach; a little of either of them may be eaten before the taking of the Diet-drink.

You may anoint the Stomach with Oil of Mace by expression; after which apply a Plaster Stomachicum magistr. to the Region of the Stomach.

CHAP. IV. Of the Hicket, or Hiccough.

THE Hicket is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and in Latin singultus, ex 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 cum, & gula, quod fere gula fiat; vel a sono gulae.

It is called in English a Sobbing or Yexing, being something like the Clocking of Hens with Chickens.

Page  153 This disease was thought by the Ancients to be a deprav'd motion of the Stomach onely, by which it striveth to expell something which is hurtfull; but experience doth ma∣nifest, that it is a convulsive Motion of the Midriff, and not of the Stomach, because in this distemper, expiration is deprav'd; and this is chiefly perfected by the Muscles of the Belly, both by drawing down the Breast, and compressing all that is contain'd in the Belly, and driving them forward towards the Midriff, and so compelling it upward (its proper motion together concurring) by which a greater straitness is made in the Breast, which causeth the Lungs also to be straitned, and consequently the Air contain'd in them to be suddenly expir'd.

'Tis true, in this distemper, the Stomach is primarily affected by sharp Vapours, Wind, or humours whencesoever proceeding, which piercing to the membranous Centre of the Midriff, provoke it by pricking, or corro∣ding, to perform that convulsive motion; in which the Diaphragma is contracted with a great force towards the Region of the Sto∣mach, which suddenly and violently driveth it forward and outward, the convulsive Mo∣tion soon ceasing, and again often repea∣ting.

The causes of the Hicket are either exter∣nal, * or internal.

Page  154 The external are hurtfull, sharp and poi∣sonous food, or medicines, taken into the Stomach, by which the Midriff is soon af∣fected, and compelled to this violent, and presently interrupted convulsive Motion.

The internal cause riseth up out of the small Gut, by the vitious Effervescency of the humours there meeting; from whence sharp, halituous or windy Vapours are rais'd to the upper Orifice of the Stomach, by which it is soon corroded; and thence the sharp flatuous Humours, or Vapours, are presently carried through the Vessels of the Diaphragma, and sticking in its substance, do corrode its sensible parts, and compell it to that Convulsive repeating contraction of it self.

When the Hicket is the Symptome of any other grievous disease, as an acute Fever, In∣flammation, * &c. it is dangerous, and some∣times mortal.

In most ordinary Hickets, the party is easi∣ly * restor'd, either by stopping the Breath, or by suddenly surprising them with fear.

But as often as sharp poisonous Food or Medicines, or any flatuous humours be in the Stomach; &c. causing the Hicket; they must be presently expelled by an Antimoni∣al Emetick, which will not onely empty the peccant humours upward and downward, Page  155 but will correct and amend the hurtfull hu∣mours in the Body.

After the Operation of the Emetick, the following Cordial Opiate will conduce to dis∣sipate the molesting Vapours, which remain about the Mouth of the Stomach; and will stay the Hicket, and mildly procure sleep.

Take the Waters of Treacle, Cinamon, * Syrup of Mint, of each one ounce; the Wa∣ters of Baum and Mint, of each two ounces; Coufectio Alkermes two drachms; Laudanum opiatum six grains; Spirits of Harts-horn, Niter dulcified, of each twenty drops; mix it.

Let the sick often take two spoonfulls of this Opiate, till they be dispos'd to rest.

If this distemper be obstinate, and yields not to the aforesaid Medicine, it shews that over-viscous Humours are conjoin'd to its Cause.

Therefore in an obstinate Hicket, it is better that the peccant humours be empti∣ed downwards, with such Medicines as will both cut, and educe them. For which I com∣mend these Pills.

Take pil. foetidae, ex duobus, of each fif∣teen * grains; Oil of Harts-horn four drops; make it into Pills; take them in the Mor∣ning fasting.

Let these or the like Aromatick Pills with gums be taken at least twice a week; which Page  156 will not onely educe the hurtfull humours, but discuss Vapours, and Wind.

In the interim, let not the frequent use of the aforesaid Cordial Opiate be neglected, for it will wonderfully conduce to the Cure.

Sometimes it is good for the Patient to sneez, for it hath often prov'd succesfull.

Drinking of warm Milk from the Cow is also much commended, because it will as∣swage the hurtfull humours which remain about the Stomach, &c.

CHAP. V. Of Belching.

BElching is called in Latin ructatio & ruc∣tuatio esculenta, quae fit ab homine saturo, because it comes most commonly after a full Stomach.

Any thing which breaks up from the Sto∣mach in the kind of a rift, or windy Vapour, and is expell'd by the Mouth with noise, may properly be called belching.

The cause of this distemper, is either out∣ward, * or inward.

The outward is from windy food, or other flatuous things taken, as Beans, Pease, Radishes, &c.

Page  157 The internal cause is either from a phleg∣matick viscous humour adhering to the Sto∣mach, where it is rarefied into wind by Aro∣maticks taken; or from the same viscous hu∣mour in the small Guts, turned into wind by Choler over fat, and volatile; and thence it is driven forward to the Stomach, where∣by the Fermentation of Food is deprav'd in∣to a noisome Crudity; whence Belches like rotten Eggs, &c. are rais'd, which doth dis∣tend and gnaw the Stomach.

If the Phlegmatick matter, which cleaveth * to the Ventricle, or small Guts, be very tough, the belching is more hardly excluded; whence often a swelling, and troublesome Distensi∣on of the Stomach follows; & e contra.

The Cure may be safely and happily per∣form'd, * onely by correcting, and educing the Phlegmatick viscous humours aboun∣ding; for which there are variety of Medi∣cines prescrib'd in the third and fourth Pages in the Cure of the Head-ach.

CHAP. VI. Of Vomiting, and of the Cholerick and Iliack Passion.

VOmiting is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ab 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 vomo.

It is a deprav'd motion of the Stomach, and a certain sign of health weakned; for in perfect health nothing is wont to be ex∣pell'd out of the Stomach by the Mouth.

In vomiting, sometimes food, (either crude, or more or less fermented) is cast out by the Gullet and Mouth; sometimes Bloud, some∣times Choler, and other times manifold hu∣mours and matter of divers Colours, Taste and Consistency; and sometimes the Excre∣ments returning to the Stomach (as in Iliaca passio) is expell'd by that preposterous way of vomiting, wherein, omnia naturae praepostera legibus ibant.

All the differences occurring in several sick People, are very difficult to be numbred, or reduc'd into a certain order; and much more to make an exact Examination of all the Symptoms, and thence to give a solid Judg∣ment of every one.

In this distemper the Stomach is either primarily, or secondarily affected.

Page  159 The Stomach is primarily affected to vo∣mit, when the cause is in it self.

As by taking a Vomit, or when there is an Inflammation, or Exulceration of it; for then it is easily stir'd up (by food, or any other thing swallowed) to a violent and preter∣natural Contraction, and turning of its mo∣tion, whereby it is compell'd to cast out whatsoever is contain'd in it.

The Stomach is secondarily affected, when it is drawn by consent of other parts first distemper'd; as by the contracting motion of the Guts, either in part or wholly, in that most grievous disease called Ileos, or Iliaca * passio; or by the vehement shaking of the Midriff, together with a potent Contraction of the Muscles of the Belly, caused sometimes in a grievous Cough: By which all the Bowels contain'd in the Belly are compres∣sed upward, toward the Breast, and urge the Stomach to change its natural motion.

As often as Cholerick humours are plenti∣fully voided out, as well upward, as down∣ward with great force, accompanied with troublesome Anxieties of the Midriff; it is * called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 bilis. And in Latin cholerica passio.

When there is a forcible pouring out of Bloud by vomiting, it is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and in Latin vomitio sanguinis. *

Page  160 The Cause of Ileos, or Iliaca passio, is an * excrementitious viscous matter that doth adhere unto the Gut called Ileo; which in time is coagulated into a very hard substance, almost in the form of Bullets; (of which I have had large experience) whence all pas∣sage through for the excrements by siege is stopt, and anon their regress and ascent to the Stomach follows, with a miserable vo∣miting of them.

The Rupture of the Peritonaeum may be also the cause of this grievous disease, espe∣cially if it be so great, that not onely the small Guts, but the great ones also fall through the lacerated hole, either by reason of their weight, or else by the perpetual ap∣proaching of what is contain'd in them, which renders them uncapable to be reduc'd, or put back through the same hole; whence the excrements, (having not passage down∣wards) are more and more hardned to that degree, that they can hardly be dissolv'd, so that a hard and unsupperable Tumour doth soon follow, which hinders the reflux of bloud, and causeth an inflammation, and consequently a gangrene of the Guts, atten∣ded with a violent vomiting of the excre∣ments, 'till death do put a period to the Patient's misery.

These evils are often encreas'd by fo∣mentations too hot apply'd, as also by a pre∣posterous Page  161 and strong rubbing of the swell'd part, and violence us'd to repell the Guts.

The immediate causes of the cholerick * passion, are sharp, putrid, cholerick hu∣mours collected in the Stomach and Bowels, because of external errours commited in diet, or by the taking of poison uncorrected, which doth immediately disturb and corrupt all the humours.

The cause of vomiting bloud, is to be de∣duced * (most commonly) from the Pancreas, by reason of some vessel open'd by its over sharp juice, caused by a vitious effervescency with Choler, from whence most of it is dri∣ven up to the Stomach to be vomited out; whilst some of it may descend downward to be voided by stool.

This distemper may also be caused by bloud flowing out of the vessels of the Stomach or Guts, either broken by vehement Cough∣ing, or corroded by sharp humours.

1. If vomiting be from repletion, or be cri∣tical, * 'tis a good benefit of nature, and there∣fore must not be stopped: but if it be sympto∣matical, 'tis an ill sign, especially if it be caused by inflammation of the Stomach, or adjacent parts, or by poison taken.

2. If the cause of Ileos, be from excre∣ments indurated in the Gut Ileon, it may be cur'd, if taken in time; but if it be from a Rupture of the Peritonaeum, 'tis dangerous, Page  162 and for the most part mortal, especially if there be inflammation and Tumour of the Guts, &c.

3. If the sick vomit bloud, 'tis dangerous: neither is the cholerick passion without dan∣ger.

The Cure of this manifold vomiting, may * be performed diversly, according to the variety of each cause.

If vomiting be rais'd too much by an E∣metick, or any other nauseous thing taken, it may be represt by this aromatick Opiate, or one like it.

Take of Mint-water, four ounces; Tinc∣ture * of Cinamon, half an ounce; Syrups of Mint, Erratick Poppies, of each six drachms: Laudanum opiatum six grains; Spirit of Ni∣tre twenty drops; mix it.

Let the sick take a spoonfull of this e∣very quarter of an hour, till the vomiting ceaseth.

If a Catarrh be the cause of vomiting look for the cure in its proper Chapter.

If the cholerick passion be caused by * poison, or plentifulness of cholerick hu∣mours in the Stomach, &c. then nothing hinders but that a gentle Antimonial Eme∣tick may be given, to which may be added those things which will temper the too great effervescency of the aforesaid hu∣mours. For example.

Page  163 Take of the infusion of Crocus Metallorum, * Mint-water, of each six drachms; Cinamon∣water, two drachms; Syrup of Erratick Poppies, half an ounce; Laudanum opiatum, two grains; mix it.

After the evacuation of the peccant hu∣mours upward, and downward, an Opiate may be profitably used; because it will not onely temper the Acrimony of Choler, but asswage the acid juice, and stupefie the outward sense, and procure rest, which will be very gratefull to the sick.

Take the waters of Fennel, Plantain, Mint, * Purslain, of each two ounces; Cinamon∣water, Syrups of Myrtles, Purslain, white Poppies, of each one ounce; Confect. de Hya∣cintho, Diascordium, Venice-treacle, of each two drachms; Laudanum opiat. eight grains; Spirit of Niter twenty drops; mix it.

Let the sick take two Spoonfulls of it of∣ten, which will conduce to amend the faul∣tiness of any humours, whether acrimonious, salt or sour; for in the disease of Cholera, it will powerfully asswage the too much effer∣vescency that is raised in the small Gut, staying the fierce motion of the troubled hu∣mours.

A bloudy vomiting requireth speedy help, * whence soever the bloud cometh.

The following Astringent medicine will wonderfully conduce to the cure.

Page  164 Take the waters of Plantain, Comfrey, * of each three ounces; Cinamon-water, dis∣till'd Vinegar, of each an ounce and half; Syrups of Mirtles, Quinces, of each one ounce; Powder of Dragons-bloud half a drachm; Laudanum opiatum six grains; mix it.

The sick may take two or three Spoon∣fulls of this Astringent Julep every hour, with good success, for it will cure the most ruptions of Vessels, and stop the flux of bloud beyond expectation.

After Vomiting is supprest, if the Patient be troubled with belching of wind, &c. in this case, the following exemplary mixture may bear the praise; for it doth not onely conduce to curb and discuss wind, remain∣ing as well in the Stomach, as Guts; but it doth temper and correct both Phlegm and Choler, and hinder wind in its rise, and will dissipate it, when it is bred.

Take the waters of Mint, Fennel, of each * four ounces; the Carminative water of Syl∣vius, Syrup of Mint, of each two ounces; Spirit of Niter twenty drops; Chymical Oil of Mace ten drops; Laudanum opiatum ten grains; mix it.

Let this be taken by Spoonfulls, often or more slowly, as pains or stretchings do more or less urge.

If bloud be thought or feared to be clot∣ter'd in the cavity of the Guts; to dissolve Page  165 it, you may add to the above mentioned Carminative Julep, pul. ocul. Cancror. Antimon. Diaphoret. Sperma Coeti, of each one drachm.

The voiding of matter by vomiting and stool, is not to be staid, but mildly promo∣ted, seeing it is wholly unnatural, and hurt∣full to the Body: but its new rise is to be hindred as much as may be, seeing it is bred of bloud, which is the fuel of our vital fire, and the sustenance of all parts of the Bo∣dy.

Among all the medicines that move or promote the voiding of matter, and hinder the continual breeding of it, out of corrupt bloud; I prefer and commend Antimonials, rightly prepar'd; as well Emeticks, as other preparations of it, as Antimonium Diaphore∣tic. and above all, a Balsam made artificially of its flowers, which will powerfully conduce to alter and correct the harms befalling the Body by matter, and hinder the new produ∣cing of it.

Also Balsam of Sulphur with Oil of Anise∣seed is excellent to cleanse and consolidate any inward Ulcer; if two or three drops of it be taken often in a day in any pleasant healing vehicle.

In all preternatural vomitings keep the Belly open, so that the sick may have (at least) every day a stool, either by Nature or Art; and let the peccant humours remai∣ning Page  166 be emptied out by siege, with these or the like Pills.

Take Extract. Rudii half a drachm; Re∣sin * of Jallop, Salt of Wormwood, Tartar vitriolated, of each ten grains; Oil of Ci∣namon three drops; mix it for two doses, to be taken in the morning.

The cure of Ileos, or Iliaca passio, may * (for the most part) be performed by the a∣foresaid medicines.

But for the sake of young Practitioners, I shall add some few directions for the cure of this lamentable contracted motion.

Wherefore to appease the troublesome ir∣ritation of the Guts, let fat Broths be often taken in at the Mouth, and also injected in∣to the Fundament as a Clyster; but if an emollient Clyster can conveniently be made, let the following be prepared and often used, the Decoction of which may be also taken at the Mouth, with a few drops of Oil of A∣nise-seed.

Take the Roots of Marsh-mallows two ounces; of Mallows, Marsh-mallows, Mul∣lein, * of each two handfulls; the Seeds of Anise, Sweet-fennel, Coriander, Flax, Fae∣nugreek, of each two ounces; let them be cleansed, bruised and boiled in a quart of Spring-water till half be consumed, then strain it, and add oil of white Lillies, the Fat of a Hen, of each one ounce; mix it for a Clyster.

Page  167 Of which ingredients you may also make Fomentations and Cataplasms to be applied to the region of the Navel, moderately hot, adding Swines or Goats dung to the Pul∣tess.

The following Emulsion will conduce not onely to allay the irritation, and temper the sharp humours, but will make the passages slippery, and (by degrees) moisten the hard Excrements contained in the small Gut, and in the mean time, will mildly procure rest, and stop vomiting.

Take of sweet Almonds blanched, white Poppy-seeds, of each two ounces; French∣barley * boiled four ounces; the waters of Fennel, Plantain, Roses, of each half a pint; Barley-water a pint, let it be made an Emul∣sion; to which add Syrup of Violets three ounces; confectio Alkermes de Hyacintho, of each two drachms; Laudanum twenty grains; Spirit of Niter forty drops; mix it.

Let the sick take three Spoonfulls of it of∣ten.

In this grievous Disease, nothing is to be neglected, either outward, or inward, that may procure ease to the Patient.

The intrails of Animals, as sheep, &c. ap∣plied very warm in hot cloaths, and often repeated, are very effectual.

Also Ventoses applied to the Navel have prov'd succesfull; after which let a little Ci∣vet Page  168 wrapt in Cotten be put to the Navel, and upon it apply a Plaster e Cymino, or Sylvius's Carminative Plaster; or else let the aforemention'd Pultess be applied warm.

Golden bullets swallowed are excellent, but for want of them, leaden bullets may serve.

Some give great Pills of Antimony; and crude Mercury or Quick-silver well depura∣ted is also highly commended, to be given to three pound at a time, and walk or ride after it, to agitate the Body; but before you give either of them let the sick take an ounce of oil of sweet Almonds or Sallet oil, and likewise after it: and be sure that no a∣cid thing be given after the Quick-silver till it be evacuated, lest it coagulate the Mer∣cury, and hurry the Patient to the grave.

CHAP. VII. Of pain in the Stomach, and of various pains of the Guts, as Cholick, &c.

THE pains of the Stomach may be distinguish'd or divided into two sorts, viz. of the upper and lower orifice.

Page  169 If the upper orifice of the Stomach, (which is of exquisite sense, by reason of the inter∣texture of Nerves with which it is wonder∣fully furnish'd from the vaga sexta, where∣of branches are also communicated to the Heart) be affected, it is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, vel 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ex 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Cor.

It is also called in Latin Cardiacus dolor, cui os Ventriculi dolet, & per consensum cordis, ergo vocatur affectio Cordis, seu oris ventriculi. For the Mouth, or upper orifice of the Sto∣mach being primarily affected, the Heart suffers by consent.

If the lower orifice, called Pilorus, be affected, it is called dolor seu colica ventriculi; especially if it come of wind.

The pains of the Guts may also be distin∣guish'd, because one while the small guts, and other whiles the thick guts are griev'd.

As often as the upper part of the small gut, (nearest the Stomach,) is pain'd, because that part of the gut is over the right Region of the Lions, it maketh the Patient (and some∣times the Physician) think that the pain is in them.

But if that part of the small gut which riseth up from the Loins and Mesenterie, (Towards the left Hypochondrium) be afflicted with ren∣dings and distensions, with a notable hardness, this is attributed to the Spleen, even by some Physicians, although without any solid rea∣son; Page  170 when indeed this distending pain is altogether Hypochondriacal.

If the pain be in the Gut Ileon, it is thence called Iliaca Passio, which hath been already treated of.

Whatsoever pain is rais'd in the Gut Co∣lon, may be called Colica Passio.

These may be distinguish'd from one an∣other, chiefly from the situation of either Gut.

For the Gut Ileon is for the most part con∣torted hither and thither, up and down about the region of the Navel, and from thence a little upward; but the Colon from the Na∣vel downward, the pain of the Cholick gene∣rally pressing to the bottom of the Belly, as well as to each side, and the Back, &c. ac∣cording as the Gut is writhed which is almost in the manner of a Roman S. being roll'd to the Navel, and from thence with a re∣markable winding through the middle of the Belly, it is writh'd to the left kidney, and groin, and so down to the Os sacrum, and bladder, and ends in the right Gut, whence the pain rising in the circuit and circumfe∣rence of the Belly below the Navel may truly be called Cholical.

Sometimes there is a hot distending pain * with pulsation and inflammation in the latter part of the thick Guts called Rectum; and this is either with a troublesome rending, Page  171 as in the internal or blind Hemorrhoids; or else it is a corroding pain, accompani'd with more or less itching, perpetually provoking to siege as in the Tenesmus, which oft times * follow a Dysentery or bloudy flux.

In these various pains of the Guts, there * is one while a hot burning with pulsation, and other whiles a cold chilness seemeth to be fixt; pricking, and (as it were) boring the bowels; sometimes there is a distension of the bowels, pressing them with a sense of weight, wonderfully writhing and contort∣ing them with such a tearing corroding pain, that the sick cannot give an explanation of the grief, and misery which they endure.

The causes are either external, or inter∣nal. *

The external are wounds or contusions, caused by external violence.

The internal causes are divers; some∣times Worms may be the cause.

But a burning pain is produced either by an obstruction of the Capillary veins of the Stomach or Guts, by which the bloud is forc'd to stand still in the vessels till at length (after a great distension) the vessels burst, and the bloud is effus'd, which breedeth an in∣flammation, and a manifest pulsation about the part affected, by which it may be dis∣tinguish'd from any other Kind.

Page  172 But for the most part, a burning and cor∣roding pain riseth from Choler too fat, pow∣erfully and vitiously raising an effervescency with the juice of the Pancreas too acid; as experience teacheth in outward things; for if you pour Spirit of Vitriol to oil of Turpen∣tine, it will presently raise an effervescency join'd with a notable heat and burning.

This burning pain is chiefly felt in the re∣gion of the Loins, because there is the con∣flux of Choler, and the juice of the Pancreas; and from thence ariseth vitious sharp va∣pours, which produce griping pains of the Stomach, and pricking pains in the Guts, as also other wandring pains therein.

If the pain be chill and cold, it is caus'd from the juice of the Pancreas very acid and sharp; which raiseth a vitious effervescency with Choler (not oily) and phlegm together, as we may observe, if we mix Spirit of Vitri∣ol with any volatile Salt not oily, how it will raise an effervescency, coupled with a no∣table Chilness, and Coldness onely sensible; hence we may conclude, that the operation of the acid Spirit in producing cold, is much promoted by phlegm.

The cause of the Colick is over viscous * phlegm, mixed with Choler, peccant both in its Saltish acrimony, and volatile oiliness; by which the viscous phlegm is rarifi'd into Wind; and if the excrements are contain'd Page  173 beyond their course, they harden, and adhere to the Gut, whereby the natural ferment is vitiated, and the windy blasts are more and more rarifi'd, and being shut up and remain∣ing in the Cavity of the Gut Colon, it cau∣seth a violent distension and contraction of it.

But if the aforesaid humours be mixt with the juice of the Pancreas over sharp, acid and harsh; then there is a wonderfull sense of contortion in the part affected, urging and writhing from place to place, according to the winding or rolling of the Gut.

If this wind pierceth through the Guts, * into the Cavity of the Belly, it expan∣deth the Peritonoeum, and so inflateth the whole Abdomen, and causeth a Tympa∣ny. *

These Distempers are all dangerous, and * sometimes mortal, especially if a violent Fe∣ver be complicated with them.

We must vary the cure according to the diversity of the causes. *

A burning corroding pain may be cur'd, by tempering too fat Choler with Acids, as Spirit of Niter, &c. being mixt with Opiates. For example.

Take the Waters of Fennel, Fumitory, * Sorrel, Succory, of each three ounces; Cinamon-water, distill'd Vinegar, Syrups of Violets and white Poppies, of each two oun∣ces; Page  174 Laudanum opiatum ten grains; Spirit of Niter twenty drops; mix it.

Let the sick often take a Spoonfull of this Julep, till the heat and pain be diminished, and sleep be procured.

The following Emulsion is also profitable, and therefore may sometimes be given for a change.

Take the four greater cold Seeds, white * Poppy-seeds, of each one ounce; French Barley boiled four ounces; with two quarts of Barley water; let it be made an Emulsion; and add to it Syrups of Violets, and white Poppies, of each two ounces; Salt prunella half an ounce, Spirit of Niter thirty drops; mix it, and give four Spoonfulls every two or three hours.

If Choler be two plentifull, let it be educ'd with this or the like mild Cholagogue.

Take Damask-rose water two ounces; * Manna, Diaphaenicon, Electuary of the juice of Roses, of each two drachms; Tartar Vitri∣olated ten grains; mix it, and take it in the morning.

The Cholagogue Electuary of Sylvius is also excellent, of which you shall have the re∣ceipt at the latter end of the Book.

Chilness and cold pains may be cur'd by tempering the over sharp acidity of the juice of the Pancreas.

Page  175 Lixivial Salts both fixt and volatile are ex∣cellent in this Case, as also any Aromatick Spirit of wine, Treacle water, &c. with which may be mix'd Coral, Pearl, Crabs-eyes, An∣timon. Diaphoret. &c. and let the body be compos'd to sweat.

The following forms may serve for ex∣ample.

Take the waters of Treacle, Fennel, Syrup * of the juice of Carduus, of each half an ounce; powder of Crabs-eyes, Antimony Diaphore∣tick, Salt of Wormwood, of each ten grains; mix it, and give it the sick to cause sweat.

You may also give some of this Cordial Julep, to uphold the Spirits when they sweat.

Take of Tincture of Cinamon, the Car∣minative * Spirit of Sylvius, of each half an ounce; the waters of Mint, Baum, of each two ounces; Syrups of the juice of Oranges, Clove-gilliflowers of each one ounce; Lau∣danum opiat. four grains; Oil of Cloves six drops; mix it, and give two or three spoon∣fulls of it often.

Let Sylvius's Carminative Plaster be spread on Leather, and applied to the region of the Stomach and Navel.

As for the cure of the Cholick, let an E∣mollient * Clyster (which discusseth wind) be given often, at least twice in a day.

Page  176 Take the roots of Marsh-mallows one * ounce; Pellitory of the Wall, Mallows, Marsh-mallows, the Flowers of Melilot; Chamomel, of each two handfulls; the Seeds of Anise, sweet Fennel, Dill, the Berries of Bays and Juniper, of each one ounce; let them be cleansed, bruised and boiled in two quarts of Whey till half of it be consumed; then strain it, and add Elec∣tuary Diaprunum, Cariocostinum, Benedicta laxativa, of each half an ounce; Oils of Dill, Chamomel, Roses, of each six drachms; Oil of Harts-horn ten drops; mix it for two Clysters.

The smoak of Tobacco may be blown into the Clyster-bladder, and given with it, with good success.

Besides, a Clyster may be made of Canary wine, or warm Cows Milk, and a little Honey, or Malossus, and given sometimes to soften the hard excrements, and to dissolve those that are too viscous, whereby they may be the easier evacuated, and also Wind invited to an easie outlet.

To drink the Decoction before prescrib'd, will much conduce to ease the sick; also of the same ingredients, you may make fo∣mentations and Cataplasms,

But if the Patient do not care for the trouble of such medicines; you may anoint the Belly with this ointment.

Page  177 Take Ointments of Marsh-mallows, Mar∣tiatum, * Oils of Capers, white Lillies, of each one ounce; Oil of Bricks half an ounce; mix it.

After which apply a large Plaster of Sylvi∣us's * Carminative Empl. to the Belly.

The following Julep taken often by spoon∣fulls will much conduce to ease the pain, and discuss the wind.

Take the Waters of Mint, Scurvigrass, Fen∣nel, * Lovage, Penny-royal, of each one ounce; the carminative Spirit of Sylvius, Tinctures of Cinamon and Castor, of each half an ounce; Syrups of Mint, Fennel and Mirtles, of each six drachms; Oil of Mace distill'd ten drops; Spirits of Harts-horn and Niter, of each twenty drops; Laudanum opiatum ten grains; mix it for a Julep.

The Oil of Harts-horn is a very Potent, though ungratefull remedy in this disease.

Also the Balsam of Sulphur made with Oil of Anise-seed, Amber, or Juniper is ex∣cellent in vanquishing this rebellious dis∣temper.

After the violence of pain is abated, you may purge the Body with this following Decoction.

Take of Guiacum four ounces; Roots of * China, Sassafras, Lovage, of each one ounce; Seeds of Anise, sweet Fennel, Berries of Bays and Juniper, of each two drachms; let Page  178 them be cleansed, bruised and boiled in two quarts of Fountain-water till half be consu∣med, strain it, and add of the best Manna, Syrup of Succory with Rhubarb, of each four ounces; Cinamon-water two ounces; Spi∣rit of Niter two drachms; mix it, and take two ounces of it every Morning and Even∣ing.

The following Pills with Gums will be also very usefull, and potent to educe the vis∣cous Phlegm, &c.

Take Galbanum prepar'd with Vinegar of * Squills two drachms; Resins of Jallop and Scammony, Powders of Castor, Mastick, Mirrh, Vitriol of Mars calcin'd to whiteness, of each half a drachm; Saffron ten grains; Powder of Troches, Alhandal two Scruples; Oils of Harts-horn, Cloves, of each ten drops; beat them all into a Mass for Pills.

Let the sick take three or four of these Pills in the morning fasting, which will kind∣ly expell the vitious humours.

After which let them take some of the aforesaid Julep to procure rest and ease. Oily volatile Salts, and Spirit of Niter are excellent, not onely to correct Choler, and other peccant humours, but do potently discuss wind.

CHAP. VIII. Of the Worms.

WOrms may be generated in all parts of the Body; those which are bred in Ulcers, may more fitly be called Mag∣gots, in Latin termetes; but I shall onely treat of those which are bred in the internal parts of the Body.

Every man living in all places, and climes, doth more or less suffer by the frequent gene∣ration of these little intestine Enemies; espe∣cially the weaker state of Man, as Infants and the female Sex; whose ferment, or digestive heat being not sufficiently master of their great moisture; part of it is turned into pu∣trefaction, which corrupteth the humours.

Wherefore it is no wonder that active Na∣ture (being never at rest) by the quickning animating heat, which causeth Concoction, doth frequently generate Worms either in the Stomach or Guts, according to the va∣rious occurrences of matter, and seminal dispositions.

There are three or four kinds of these in∣bred disturbers, which we may take no∣tice of.

Page  180 The first are called in Latin Teretes, a te∣rendo, quod quasi terendo rotundum sit, vel ex * 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i. e. terebrando.

They are long and round like Earth∣worms but whiter; they are more common than the rest, and are bred in the Guts, but do sometimes get up into the Stomach.

The second are called lumbrici Lati & lon∣gi, because they are broad and long.

They are also called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ex * 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, tendo. i. e. fascia extensa. Because they are something like a womans Head-band.

This worm is full of joints, and is a native of the Jejunum, which is a fit place to nou∣rish these Milk-suckers, or craving Vermine; there being the most supply of milky Juice, by reason of the numerous lacteal Vessels.

Some of these worms have been of an in∣credible length. Pliny lib 11. nat. hist. cap. 33. affirmeth that some have been thirty foot in length.

If you peruse Schenckiu's his observations, lib. 3. pag. 411. you may reade variety of such Histories.

The third are called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, à * 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, salio.

In Latin they are called Vermes exigui in∣testinorum, quod ex 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, è sordibus nas∣cantur.

They are little and slender; some call them Arse-worms, because they commonly Page  181 lye in the Intestinum rectum, near the Sphincter Muscle.

There is another kind of worms (though seldom seen) in the Colon, like the Botts in Horses; they may be called in Latin Vermi∣na, * ex vertendo, quod rependo torqueant sese, & vertant cum quodam minuto motu. Ex 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 serpo.

The material cause of all worms is (most commonly) the inconcocted part of the Chylus which is produc'd of such nourishment as easily putrifieth in the Stomach; as green fruit, &c. which gives sufficient matter to these intruding Vermine.

This part of the Chylus being crude, and unfit for sanguification, is left (undrawn by the lacteal Veins) in the intestines, where it is mixed with pituitous humours, and elabo∣rated by the temperate heat of the guts, which is the efficient cause of such like generations.

The form which lay hid in this matter be∣fore, is afterward generated by the tempe∣rate heat of the Bowels, and according to the diversity of the latent forms, sundry sorts of worms are bred.

In the aforemention'd title of Schenckius, you may reade of the stupendious Figures of Worms, set down by learned and famous Men in their Monuments.

The signs of worms are many.

If they be round, there is a pinching or * Page  182 gnawing pain in the Belly, especially being hungry; also a stinking Breath, a frequent dry Cough, Loathing, and sometimes Vo∣miting and Looseness, with distention of the Belly, and a symptomatical Fever; the sleep is often disturb'd with horrible Dreams, and starting and gnashing of the Teeth; the Face is pale the Nose itcheth; wherefore Children that have them, do often rub and pick their Nose.

If the long broad worm be in the small * guts, the party hath an insatiable Appetite, the Body consumeth, having quick stools after eating, in which there is often a sub∣stance like to the Seeds of Cucumbers.

If the small worms called Ascarides, be * bred in the intestinum rectum, there is a pain∣full itching in Anus with provocation to stool, in which they often come away.

If the short thick worms like Botts be bred * in the Colon, there is a wringing troublesome pain, and they often come from the Patient night and day, without any Excrements, or motion to stool.

These last mention'd, are of all others the worst, and most difficult to destroy, especi∣ally * if they continue long, and grow nume∣rous, because they enclose themselves in a Cystis or Bladder for shelter, which they run out and in to, as a Coney into her Burrough, whereby they defend themselves from the Page  183 power of those things which are given to kill them.

The broad long worms are also hard to destroy; and if the round ones continue long, and are many, they cause Convulsions, and sometime Epilepsie; and if they come out alive in acute Fevers, it betokeneth great Malignity of the morbifick matter, which they labour to shun.

The Ascarides are not dangerous, for they may be easily killed with Clysters.

As for the Curation, it is perform'd by two * indications; the first is by killing of them, the second by expelling of them when killed

And here the place or residence of the of∣fending Vermine is to be considered, viz. whether it be the Stomach or Bowels; if the Bowels, whether the most external, as the Rectum, or more internal, as the Colon, Ileon, or Jejunum; and according to the different seat of such internal offensives of life, we must differently level our remedies, and manner of Cure.

If the Stomach be the residence of these notorious offenders; they may then be kil∣led, and pumped upwards by an Antimonial vomit.

But large worms, which are not natives of the Stomach, but (as is said before) of the Jejunum, or other next productive guts, Page  184 may be most properly conveyed downwards by the force of Aloetick and Mercurial Medicaments.

And for as much as the passage is tedious for such slow marchers as worms are; which being but sick it may be with one dose, and loath to be dislodged; therefore they must be often stimulated to their exit (at least five or six days together) by protruding Medicaments, till they be all destroy'd, and evacuated.

The following Pill is excellent.

Take Extract. Rudii, pil. Ruffi, of each one Scruple; Mercur. dulcis sixteen grains; * Oil of Juniper three drops; make them in∣to eight Pills.

A young Child may take a small Pill of this every day, and those that are adult, three or four of them, for five or six days, till all the Vermine are kill'd and ejected.

And to render the whole Region of the Bowels an uneasie residence to such unwel∣come guests, an Aloetick Plaster applied to the Navel is never to be omitted; and far∣ther to specificate the same, and all other Medicines, either internally exhibited, or ex∣ternally applied; I advise you to mix some of the Powder of the ejected worms (of what kind soever) with them, which you will find most effectual to destroy the living Ver∣mine.

Page  185 Also all medicaments which partake of mercurial irradiation are destructive to Worms where-e'er they are.

Our common Quicksilver, if boiled an hour or two in fair Water, renders the whole (without communication of taste or scent, and also without any loss of weight) a cer∣tain destroyer of Worms in humane Bodies; which may be either given at the Mouth, or sweetned with Sugar, and given as a Clyster; after which give two or three do∣ses of the aforesaid Pills to expell the dead Vermine, and verminous matter.

CHAP. IX. Of a Looseness, or flux of the Belly.

AS often as the expulsion of what is con∣tain'd in the Guts, happens quicker, oftener, and more plentifully than is natu∣ral, it may be called a Looseness; of which there are divers sorts, which may be distin∣guisht according to the different things voi∣ded.

1. If Food be evacuated crude and undiges∣ted, * it is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and in Latin also Lienteria, i. e. levitas intestino∣rum.

Page  186 2. If the Food be fermented in the Stomach, and the Chyle passeth into the Guts, and the nutriment of the Chyle be not there se∣parated from the Excrement, but is voided whitish like a Pultess, much like the Excre∣ments of those that have the Jaundice, it may be called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and in Latin Coeliaca, i. e. alvinus, vel ventralis dispositio; * of which there is another kind, which for distinction sake may be named the Chyle-like Looseness; wherein the Food is both fermen∣ted, and severed into Chyle and Excrements, and yet are voided confusedly together.

3. If not onely Food, but waterish and cholerick humours are often and plentifully voided, it is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 * fluo.

It may be called in English a Cholerick Looseness.

There are divers other kinds of Looseness, which may be called Diarrhoea; for if thick and viscous Phlegmatick humours are fre∣quently and plentifully voided, it may thence be call'd a Phlegmatick Diarrhoea; if the humours be serous, it is a serous Diar∣rhoea; if fat and oily Excrements are fre∣quently evacuated, it may thence be nam'd an unctuous Diarrhoea, &c.

4. If the dejection be purulent, corrupted, excrementitious matter, together with pure Bloud, it may then be called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, * Page  187 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, quod hic non tam difficultatem quam detrimentum notat, & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 intestinum, ab 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 intus.

It may be called in Latin Tormina quod dolore torquentur intestina; In English 'tis vulgarly called the Bloudy-flux.

If there be a perpetual endeavour to go to stool, and nothing but a little mucous purulent matter voided with great pain and straining, it may be called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, vel 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ex 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 tendo. *

In English it may be called a neediness, there being a continual need and desire to go to stool.

This Distemper properly belongeth to a Dysentery, because it doth most commonly follow it, and sometimes with a procidentia Ani.

To a Bloudy-flux may also be referred the * immoderate flux of the Hemorrhoids, which may be known from a Dysentery, both from the place affected, and the great quantity of the bloudy purging.

It is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ex 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, san∣guis, & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, profluvium.

Also the flux of the Liver (if there be any such Disease) may be referred hither, in which the excrementitious liquour ejected, is like the washing of bloudy flesh.

This Distemper is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, qui ex hepate laborant.

Page  188 In Latin 'tis called Hepaticus affectus, vel fluxus est serosi et sanguinei humoris per alvum excretio, propter Hepatis imbecilitatem.

The causes of all fluxes of the Belly, are * either external, or internal.

The external, are any of the six non-na∣tural things immoderately used, which wea∣kens the Stomach, also the taking of any ve∣nemous thing, as Arsnick, Mercury subli∣mate, &c. which presently destroys the fer∣ment of the Stomach and Guts.

The internal cause of the Lientery, is weak∣ness * of the Stomach, that it cannot retain any food received into it, but striveth to ex∣pell it.

The Jaundice-like flux is caused by the slug∣gishness * of Choler, so that it is not carri'd down to the Guts, to promote the separation of the usefull, from the unusefull parts of the Chyle.

The Chyle-like flux is also caused by the * same, so that the straining of Chyle through the spongy crust of the Guts into the Lacteal veins is hindred; the orifices or pores tending to the Lacteal veins, being obstructed by over thick and viscous phlegmatick hu∣mours.

A Cholerick Diarrhoea is caused by over∣salt, * sharp and serous Choler; together with phlegm, and the juice of the Pancreas too watry and fluid.

Page  189 A phlegmatick Diarrhoea is caused by such things as do breed much viscous phlegm.

A serous Diarrhoea ariseth most frequent∣ly from Spittle, and the juice of the Pancreas too Serous.

A fat, oily, or unctuous looseness, doth follow the over much use of too fat food.

A Dysentery doth proceed either from the * thickness of the bloud, by reason of over viscous phlegm, being mixed with Lympha, or the juice of the Pancreas too acid, ac∣compani'd with sorrow of mind; whereby the bloud doth become too gross for its won∣ted circulation through the Capillary Vessels of the Guts; wherefore it causeth a great distension of them, till at length they burst, and pour out the bloud into the cavity of the Guts.

Or else it may be caused from Choler too salt, sharp and plenteous in the bloud, whereby it doth become extravagantly se∣rous, and eager, through extraordinary fer∣mentation, extremely agitating the humours to a Colliquation, especially where fierceness of anger or great heat of mind do concur; by which the bloud is the more rarifi'd to pierce through the tender restraint of the vessels, and doth flow out by indirect ways, some∣times by great loss, to the endangering of life.

Page  190 A Tenasmus is caused by a phlegmatick vis∣cous * humour, joyned with a sharp acid hu∣mour, which doth fret the Gut about the siege, stirring up a troublesome Ulcer there.

The flux of the Hemorrhoids, and of the * Liver, is to be deduc'd from much serous matter mixt with the bloud, and also relax∣ing the vessels.

The Hemorrhoids are either critical, which useth to ease the sick; or symptoma∣tical, and much weakneth them.

The signs of Fluxes are manifest, from * what hath been said.

1. If any looseness continue long, with loa∣thing, * 'tis an ill sign, especially if it be with a Fever.

2. If the small Guts are affected, the pain is sharper than when it is in the thick Guts.

3. In the Dysentery, if the dejections be very bloudy, or black and fetid, with great Thirst, Hicket, &c. for the most part they are mortal signs; but if the erosion be onely in the internal membrane of the Gut, and there be no great pain, nor other bad sym∣ptome, there is great hopes of recovery.

If the bloud and humours be too thin and * serous, they must be corrected, and eva∣cuated.

Chalk, and Harts-horn, (or any other burnt bone) reduc'd to powder, and given Page  191 often in a small quantity, doth imbibe and correct watry moisture, and also over much fatness, which may be the cause of a loose∣ness.

After which the peccant humours may be evacuated by stool with Hydragogues, and by sweat and urine, with Sudorificks and Diureticks.

Toasted Rhubarb will satisfie to many in∣dications, seeing that it doth not onely eva∣cuate water together with Choler abounding, but will soon correct the over-loose body, by its mild tartness.

Wherefore when the Bloud doth abound with much serous liquour, let the sick take this Powder in a little Broth.

Take the Powder of Jallop, Cinamon, of each fifteen grains; Powder of Rhubarb * tosted half a drachm; mix it

After the operation of it, you may give the following Cordial by spoonfulls.

Take the Waters of Plantain, Comfry, * of each two ounces; Cinamon-water half an ounce; Syrup of Mirtles one ounce; Confectio de Hyacintho, Diascordium, of each one drachm; Laudanum opiat. four grains; mix it.

It will be also convenient sometimes to e∣duce the humours by urine and sweat; for which I commend the following Decoction of China, &c.

Page  192 Take the Roots of Burdock, the five o∣pening * Roots, Sarzeparilla, Contra yerva, of each one ounce; China four ounces; Grom∣well-seeds, Juniper-berries, of each half an ounce; let them be cleansed, bruised and boiled in two quarts of fountain water, 'till half of it be boiled away; then strain it, and add Syrup of the five opening Roots six ounces; Spirit of Niter one drachm; mix it.

L•t the sick take a quarter of a pint of this warm, twice or thrice a day, and especially in the morning fasting, which will the ea∣sier procure a breathing sweat, or else urine more plentifull, by which the serosity of the bloud will be consum'd by little and little, so that the bloud and humours will thereby become more pure.

If a Dysentery, or Bloudy-flux arise from a sharp humour corroding the Vessels; it may be cur'd by correcting, and tempering the sharp acid humours, and consolidating the Vessels fretted.

The following Powder is excellent to cor∣rect and amend the aforesaid acid humours, and stop all fluxes of bloud.

Take the Powders of red Coral, Pearles * prepared, white Chalk, Dragons bloud, of each half a drachm; mix it for six doses, which may be taken in three spoonfulls of the fol∣lowing Julep, every two or three hours.

Page  193 Take the Waters of Plantain, Comfry, of * each two ounces; Tincture of Cinamon, Sy∣rups of Quinces, Mirtles, of each one ounce; Laudanum opiat. ten grains; Oil of Juniper ten drops; mix it.

If there be an Ulcer in the thick Guts, and Clysters can come to the part affected, let the following be often injected, and instruct the sick to retain them so long as they can.

Take new Milk wherein Steel hath been * quenched one pint; Honey of Roses one ounce; Venice Turpentine half an ounce; the Yelk of one Egg; Balsam of Sulphur four drops; mix it.

The following Bolus may be sometimes given in the Morning fasting.

Take the Powder of Rhubarb tosted two * Scruples; Nutmeg one scruple; make it in∣to a Bolus with Conserves of red Roses.

And this Bolus may be given at Night going to bed.

Take Diascordium, Conserves of red Roses, * of each half a drachm; Laudanum opiat. three grains; mix it.

By the frequent use of these choice Me∣dicines, the Ulcer will be cleans'd, the Gripes asswag'd, and the Consolidation of the ulce∣rated Gut (both in the Tenasmus and Dysen∣tery, &c.) will be wonderfully promoted.

Page  194 But if the Ulcer be in the small Guts, the following vulnerary Decoction will more conduce to the Cure.

Take the Roots of Comfry, Plantain, Knot∣grass, * of each two ounces; the Tops of Saint John's wort, Sanicle, Germander, red Roses, of each one handfull; Shavings of Harts∣horn, Cinamon, of each half an ounce; let them be cleansed, bruised and boiled in three quarts of Fountain-water wherein steel hath been quenched, till half of it be boiled away, then strain it, and add Syrup of dried Roses, Tincture of Cinamon, dis∣till'd Vinegar, Syrup of Marsh-mallows, of each two ounces; mix it, and give the sick four spoonfulls every two or three hours.

If you add two or three drops of Balsam of Sulphur, made with Oil of Anise-seed to eve∣ry dose of the Decoction, &c. it will be the more effectual both to cleanse and consoli∣date the Ulcer.

The flux of the Hemorrhoids, if it be symptomatical, and weaken the sick, is then to be hindred, which may be effectually done by the afore-mention'd Medicines.

If much serous Liquour can so dilute the Bloud, and relax the Vessels, that part of it may be carried out of them into the Guts, and produce a Flux like the washing of Flesh, commonly called a Flux of the Liver; it may be cur'd by driving forward the serous Li∣quour Page  195 out of the Body, by Sudorificks, and Diureticks; and also by tart strengthning things that repair the hurt of the loosened Vessels.

The Diuretick decoction of China, before mention'd, is excellent in this case, to be ta∣ken as is there directed.

Also the following Diaphoretick may be sometimes used with good success.

Take the Waters of Treacle, Cinamon, of * each half an ounce; Plantain-water two oun∣ces; distill'd Vinegar three drachms; Con∣fectio de Hyacintho, Diascordium, of each one drachm; Powder of Crabs-eyes, Antimony Diaphoretick, of each half a drachm; Syrups of Mirtles, dried Roses, of each six drachms; mix it for two doses.

Also the Powder and astringent Julep pre∣scrib'd in page 192, 193. is excellent to corro∣borate the loosened Vessels, &c.

Anoint the Belly with the Oil of Quinces, Mirtles, Roses, Wormwood, &c. mixed with unguent. Comitissae; which is also good in all Fluxes of the Belly.

CHAP. X. Of the dry Belly-ach.

THIS cruciating disease may be called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and in Latin Spasmus Abdominis, quod sub umbelico est ad Pubem; and because of the additional Tor∣ments, it may be also named Tormen Abdomi∣nis, quod dolore torquetur Abdomen.

This disease doth also need as well the Name, as the invocation of Miserere mei Deus; the sick being in such extreme misery, that 'tis incredible to all but them that have endur'd it.

The most urgent and exquisite pain under this affect, being in that most tender and sen∣sible part, viz. the Belly, may seem to have some Alliance with the Iliack or Colick pas∣sion; and indeed they are sometimes its Con∣comitants, but much different from it.

The causes of this lamentable Distemper, * are either external, or internal.

The external general occasional cause is contracting Cold in the Region of the Belly, &c. which doth cramp not onely the Muscles of the Abdomen, but also the tender Fibres of the Intestines, cruciating all the affected parts with obdurate Contractions; which is Page  197 more aggravated when the Moon doth come to opposition with the Sun. Which may be al∣so observ'd in all Spasms and convulsive mo∣tions, that about the full of the Moon, the tide of such nervous diseases doth rise highest: Espe∣cially in those places where the direct aspects of the nocturnal luminary have the most power; which demonstration will evince to be between the Tropicks, which many of our Mariners, (who have sailed that way) can tell by wofull experience.

Another external procuring cause of this grievous disease is a mineral Gas ascending from the Caverns of the Earth, infesting the Air with its poisonous Fumes, whereby not onely the tender fibrous, and nervous parts of the Belly are oft times crampt with Con∣vulsive spasms; but the mineral Fumes be∣ing inspired with the Air into the Body, pro∣duce most eminent apparent evils, as the Corruption of the Chyle into porraceous and adust Choler, from whence followeth irrita∣ting Vomitings, and the Constipation of the Belly, with obdurateness of the excre∣ments, which inflames the Bowels, and en∣tails * a Symptomatical fever, with a heavy and slow pulse; and as the pain doth aggravate more and more, there is want of sleep and rest, with other uneasiness, and commotions of Body and Mind; as the Operatours in Chymistry have sometimes experience of Page  198 (to their cost and trouble) in mineral pre∣parations; for if a Vessel chance to break, the sharp and acid Vapours, or Gas of the mine∣ral, immediately seiseth the Animal spirits of all that are in the Elaboratory; by which they are mov'd unequally (against the will) through the Nerves to the Musculous parts, which causeth Convulsive motions, with trembling and shaking of the Limbs, and other accumulated evils.

The like grievous Symptoms (though not so violent) happen to many People that inhabit near the mineral Mines in Hungaria, and also in some Places of England as Derby∣shire, &c. Where there are Lead-works, from whence mineral Fumes continually ascend from the separating Oar, which infesteth the Air, and is a great producer of such Convul∣sive effects.

At the first seisure of this evil, the Muscles of the Abdomen, and sometimes those of the Breast and Back, (through contractions) prove hard and painfull, as in our ordinary Cramps; which Symptoms will evince, that these Vapours are peccant in an acid Acri∣mony.

The internal Cause, is also sour Vapours ari∣sing most commonly out of the small Guts; which the concurring symptoms (consider'd and weighed with an attentive mind) will confirm; for these Vapours being sharp, are Page  199 driven forward into the Nerves, and gnaw∣ing them with great pain, aggravate and produce this Convulsive spasm.

1. If this miserable and afflictive Distem∣per * hath continu'd to a long durance, it causeth such obstructions in the fibrous and nervous Passages of the Muscles, that there∣by Lameness and an Atrophy soon succeeds, increasing the Weakness of all the Members of the Body, till at length it ends in a Para∣litical resolution of them.

2. If a pregnant Woman, or a Woman af∣ter Abortion, be afflicted with this grievous evil; it is very dangerous, and many times mortal.

As for the Cure, we must endeavour to * ease the pain, and strengthen the weak parts with all expedition,

The pain may be eased, and diminish'd as well by internal, as external Anodynes and Narcoticks; to allay the violent Motion of the Animal spirits, and abate the grievous Spasms succeeding.

The following Cordial Diaphoretick opiate is excellent in this Case.

Take the Waters of Fennel, Peony, Treacle, * of each one ounce; Syrups of Stoechas, Peony, Scurvigrass, of each half an ounce; Powder of Crabs-eyes, Antimony Diaphoretick, Be∣zoar-mineral, Salt of Tartar vitriolated, Salt of Amber, volatile Salt of Harts-horn, of Page  200 each one scruple; Tincture of Castor two drachms, Spirit of Salt Armoniack, Oil of Cloves, of each four drops; Laudanum opiat. six grains; mix it, and give four spoonfulls every three hours.

By the frequent taking of this Volatile and Anodyne Sudorifick, the peccant humours will be temper'd and diminisht, and the in∣ordinate, involuntary, and impetuous mo∣tion of the Animal spirits will be reduc'd, and brought to tranquillity, by which the binding Constrictions of the Belly-ach will be the easier remov'd.

Bathing in this distemper, hath been of∣ten us'd with admirable success; for by the frequent use thereof, the cutaneous and mus∣cular Fibres will not onely be relax'd from contracted Spasms; but the pores will be al∣so kept open for the constant discharge of transpiring Particles.

A natural Bath, such as is in the City of Bathe, is excellent; but when it is not to be had, an artificial Bath may be very usefull for the ends propos'd.

For example.

Take of Elder, Dwarf-elder, Vervain, Be∣tony, Chamomel, Bays, Rhue, Time, Hys∣sop, * Ground-pine, Organ, Penny-royal, Sage, sweet Marjoram, of each six handfulls; Page  201 Flowers of Stoechas, Chamomel, Melilot, of each four handfulls; Roots of Pellitory of Spain, Briony, Master-wort, Virginia Snake∣root, of each four ounces; Spicknard, Ber∣ries of Juniper and Bays, of each two oun∣ces; Brimstone six pound; Salt Niter two pound; let them be cleansed, bruised and boiled in twenty Gallons of Fountain-water, till a third part be boiled away.

Let the sick be well bathed in it, as often as strength will permit; and let them sit there∣in, as long as they may well bear the same.

Then let them be rub'd dry, and remov'd into a Bed; and let the affected parts be well anointed with this (or the like) fragrant Ointment.

Take Oil of Earth-worms, Ointment of * Orange-flowers, Jessamy, of each three oun∣ces; Oil of Mace by expression one ounce; Oil of Juniper, Bricks, of each two drachms; mix it.

As often as the Body is costive, let a Sup∣pository, or carminative Clyster be admi∣nistred to make it soluble.

Let the weakned parts be fortifi'd with the aforesaid unguent; upon which apply a Plaster of Sylvius's carminative Emplaster spread on Leather, which you may remove once in twenty four hours, using warm frictions to the pained parts, and apply the Plaster a∣gain; and over it you may apply a Fox-skin Page  202 drest, which will keep the parts warm, and conduce to the cure, which course may be continu'd 'till strength be restor'd to the grie∣ved Limbs.

CHAP. XI. Of the Yellow Iaundice.

THE Yellow Jaundice is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ab avicula quoe 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 dicitur, * quod ea oculos flavi vel aurei coloris habet.

It is also called Icterus in Latin; it being a spreading of a yellowish Colour over the whole body.

It was the common received opinion of the Ancients, that the chief cause of this Disease, is an obstruction of the Cystick pas∣sage to the small Gut, so that Choler is there∣by wholly hindred in its natural descent; wherefore it doth ascend to the Liver, and so to the Bloud, with which it is transfer'd to the habit and superficies of the body, where it doth shew it self in its colours.

But it may be manifested from many ob∣servations, and experiments, both Anatomi∣cal, and Practical; that the Jaundice may be produc'd without an obstruction of the pas∣sage of Choler.

Page  203 Although I suppose that the Jaundice may probably be raised by an obstruction of the Meatus Hepaticus: for if there should be a great stoppage in this Vessel, by any gluti∣nous or lapidescent matter, the Choler that is generated in it may possibly regurgitate (there being no Valves to hinder it) and thereby become mixed with the Blood, by which means it may (in a short time) be conveyed over the whole Body.

But if the Meatus Cisticus should be stop∣ped by a small stone, &c. as I have sometimes seen in dissecting Icterical Patients, where I observed that the Excrements were not dyed so yellow as usual: yet it is impossible that there should be any regurgitation of Choler to the Liver out of the Gall, by reason of the three Valves looking from without inwards, which do potently hinder the recourse of it: and although the Meatus Hepaticus is with∣out Valves, yet seldom in a Jaundice, is ei∣ther that passage, or the Ductus Communis obstructed, but many times wider, as the most ingenious Salmon hath accurately ob∣served.

Wherefore that we may the better judge * of the true Cause of this Disease, let us first consider that Man's Body abounds with an Animal salt, which doth circulate with the Blood through the whole Body, so that not onely the internal, but superficial parts are replenished therewith.

Page  [unnumbered] 2. Secondly, it is the Nature of Volatile and Animal salts to sublime, and upon their mixture with other fit Bodies to excite or stir up new appearances of Colours accor∣ding to the Nature of the Salt; for if a soluti∣on of Salt of Tartar be mixt with a solution of sublimate in fair Water, it gives in a mo∣ment a reddish, yellowish or orange taw∣ny Colour, although both the solutions be as clear as Cristal, and with Armoniack salts in proper liquors, may be made many Colours to appear.

From whence we may judge, that if the Animal salt of Man's Body become too vola∣tile, or be too much sublimed: which may be done, either by the biting of an enraged Viper, or by the power of poyson, or from the over heating of the Body by violent ex∣ercise, or by exceeding sorrow of mind, or great passion, or by excessive drinking of hot liquors, or from burning Feavers; where∣by the universal Body comes to be inflamed, the Spirits vehemently agitated, and there∣by the Volatile saline Principle to be vio∣lently moved out of its Place or Domicil, to the Circumference of the Body; but mee∣ting with the viscous Juice of the Cutis is there hindred from flying away; and being dissolved and mixt with the Cutaneous Hu∣midity it excites the Jaundice, whether yel∣low, black or greenish, according to the Co∣lour Page  204 of the Poyson which the Patient hath casually taken, or predisposition of the Bo∣dy to so notable a mutation. Hence it is that many (who have been in perfect health) have been suddenly invaded with this Di∣sease: some by the biting of an enraged Vi∣per, others by running a race, &c. who im∣mediately after were all over as yellow as if they were dipt into the Juice of Saffron; and yet notwithstanding it could not be judg∣ed that the Gall-juice was either affected or disaffected in the least measure: for it cannot in reason be supposed, that the Venome or Poyson of the Viper should be so particularly directed to the Gall, to work such an effect in so short a time, as to distribute that vis∣cous heavy Juice so universally over the whole Body: much less can any one ima∣gine, that either the drinking of strong li∣quours, or any violent exercise, &c. should any ways so operate upon the cholerick Hu∣mour, as to volatize it, and so immediately disperse it universally over the whole humane Frame; for it is impossible that the gluti∣nous Substance of Choler should be disper∣sed in so short a time to all the superficial Parts of the Body.

Therefore it is more probable, that the volatile Animal salt of the Body, being mo∣ved, and carried out of its Domicil, by the extream heat of the internal Parts, and vio∣lent Page  [unnumbered] Motion of the Spirits, and being mixt and dissolved with the cutaneous Juice (as is before mentioned) doth not onely excite the Jaundice, but may possibly be the Cause of Purple Spots in the Spotted Feaver: as also of many other sudden and great Changes in the Bodies of humane kind.

The Jaundice invading a Patient in a Fe∣ver (before the seventh, viz. the Critical * day) is dangerous: if it comes upon an In∣flamation of the Liver, or a Schirrus and the Cure be not hastned, a Dropsie, Cachexy, or deadly pining will in a short time suc∣ceed.

If it be critical upon acute Feavers nature * effects the Cure: if it be symptomatical, the Cure depends upon the Cure of the Disease by which it comes.

If it be essential from the obstruction of the Meatus Hepaticus, the obstruction must be opened.

If sorrow of mind or great passion be the Cause, it ought to be prevented as much as may be, both by Philosophical and Theolo∣gical reasons about any troublesome matters, and by confirming the mind, whereby the sick may be the better enabled to bear and suffer stoutly any adversity.

This ought to be observed also in all other Diseases.

Page  205 If Ebriety be the cause I commend Sobrie∣ty to cure it. Sublata causa tollitur effec∣tus.

If the humours be over viscous or gluti∣nous, the following Decoction will not one∣ly alter and correct, but mildly educe the peccant humours, by which the Jaundice may in a short time be cured.

Take of Rhubarb, the Roots of Madder, Smallage, the greater Celandine, of each * one ounce; the Flowers of Broom one hand∣full; Hemp-seed two ounces; the Seeds of Anise, Parsley and Columbines, of each half an ounce; Saffron two drachms; white Tartar three drachms; let them be cleansed, bruised and boiled in White-wine, and Foun∣tain water, of each three pints, till the third part be boiled away, then strain it, and add the best Manna, Syrup of Succory with Rhubarb, of each three ounces; mix it.

Let the sick take four spoonfulls of this three times a day, till the viscous phlegm and Choler be sufficiently evacuated, and the na∣tural colour of the body restored.

As oft as the Jaundice is caused by the poi∣son of a Viper, or any other venemous thing whatsoever, you must administer (as soon as possible) a volatile sudorifick to correct and expell the venome.

The following will serve to both indica∣tions.

Page  206 Take the waters of Carduus, Fennel, Fu∣mitory, * of each two ounces; Treacle-water, Syrups of the juice of Carduus, red Poppies, of each one ounce; tincture of Saffron two drachms; Venice-treacle half a drachm; Be∣zoar-mineral, Antimony diaphoretick, Salt of Harts-horn, of each one scruple; Spirit of Salt-Armoniack six drops; Laudanum opi∣atum six grains; mix it, and give three or four spoonfulls to provoke sweat, and after it breaks forth, give a spoonfull or two, now and then, to promote it.

Also this Decoction, or one like it may be prescrib'd for the Icterick patient, it being both Sudorifick, and Diuretick.

Take the Roots of Scorzonera, Juniper, of * each two ounces; Roots of Master-wort, Sassaphras, of each half an ounce; Berries of Juniper and Bays, of each one ounce and half; Seeds of Nettles, Hemp and Colum∣bines of each one ounce; shavings of Harts-horn three drachms; the tops of Carduus, Scordium, Scabious, the lesser Centaury, of each one handfull; let them be cleansed, bruised and boiled in two quarts of Fountain∣water, till half of it be boiled away; then strain it, and add Syrup of the juice of Car∣duus four ounces; Treacle-water two ounces; Salt of Tartar vitriolated two drachms; mix it, and give four spoonfulls every two or three hours.

Page  207 Soap of any sort, conduceth to the cure of the Jaundice, upon a twofold account, both by reason of its fixt lixivial Salt, and al∣so by reason of its fatness or oil; for the Lixi∣vial Salt doth correct and diminish the over volatileness and spirituousness of the vitiated Choler, and the oil doth blunt the sharpness of the volatile and spirituous Salt ruling in Choler.

The following mixture is very effectual.

Take of Hemp-seed two ounces; Soap two * drachms; bruise the seed, and boil it in half a pint of new Milk, till half of it be con∣sumed; then strain it, and add Syrup of Saf∣fron half an ounce; tincture of Saffron two drachms; Laudanum opiatum four grains; mix it, and give half of it in the morning fasting, and the remainder at night, going to bed.

CHAP. XII. Of a Cachexy.

AN ill Habit of Body is called in Greek * 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ex 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, malus, & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, habitus.

It may be called in Latin mala corporis ha∣bitudo.

Page  208 There are many causes of this Distemper, which may be distinguisht according to the diversity of the conjoin'd Symptoms.

It doth accompany all Chronical Diseases, as Dropsies of all kinds, Hypochondriack suffocation, Scurvy, Pox and Gout, &c. for it doth spare none, neither Peer nor Peasant, of any age or sex; but it most frequently sei∣zeth on Women when their monthly terms are supprest.

The cause is either external or internal.

The external cause is either bad Diet, a long time receiv'd, or for want of good re∣freshing Food after sickness, for the Stomach being weak cannot digest course Diet, by which the nutriment of the Body doth by degrees become peccant in quality, vitiating the humours, and Bloud it self, so that an ill nourishment of the Body doth follow.

The internal cause may be the suppression of the Terms in Women, which is more or less corrupted about the Womb, having not its natural evacuation, from whence the whole mass of Bloud is indued with a vitious quality, by which the nourishment of all parts of the Body is deprav'd.

Also Choler, and the juice of the Pancreas (which are always confus'd with the Bloud) being alike vitious or peccant in quality, do not onely corrupt the separation of use∣full and unusefull parts, but by the vitious Page  209 effervescency of these humours manifold fla∣tuous vapours are rais'd, which do not onely increase anxieties about the Midriff, but be∣ing carried to the Heart, there follows a pressing pain and palpitation thereof; and in circulating through the Lungs, it causeth a Dyspnoea, or difficult breathing; and being thence transferr'd every way throughout the Body, it doth breed a general weariness in all parts.

But when the vitious humours abound to∣gether in plenty, then several kinds of the Dropsie at length succeed; if not the univer∣sal Body groweth lean by degrees.

From what hath been said, the production of every Cachexie may easily be deduced by a judicious Physician.

The signs are paleness of the Face, short∣ness * of breath, palpitation of the Heart, and often apressing pain of it, accompanied (for the most part) with a lingring Fever, either continual, or intermitting, or com∣pounded of both, in which the Urine is crude or watry; at length there is a wea∣riness of the universal Body, which in some doth pine and become lean, but in others the Body doth swell, and is turgid.

If this Disease be not helpt in time, it will become by degrees so stubborn and rebellious, * that it will puzzle the wisest and most expe∣rienced Physicians to cure it; for by the Page  210 long continuance thereof, phlegm becometh very tough and glutinous, on which all Chronical, or prolong'd Diseases depend; besides, all the other humours are by de∣grees vitiated, which incorporate with the Bloud, and diminish its effervescency, so that the separation and excretion of the ex∣crementitious parts (to be voided together with Urine) do not follow, from whence many grievous symptoms succeed, which oft proves mortal.

The cure of every Cachexie will consist in * the correction and amendment of the Bloud any way vitiated.

If flegm be tough and glutinous, it must be corrected and evacuated, for which there are variety of choice medicines prescrib'd in the fourth page, of the cure of diseases of the Head; in the use whereof you must perse∣vere for some time, or else the laudable suc∣cess, and happy wisht for cure will be ex∣pected in vain.

Any other humours that are peccant in quality (by which the bloud is vitiated) must be alter'd and reduc'd to their natural Constitution by selected Medicines, which will amend and empty them out by degrees.

In the interim good Food (which is easie of digestion, and wholsome nourishment) must not be neglected, whereby nature may be cherished, and health by degrees procured.

Page  211 Those Medicines which are prescrib'd for the Cure of the Dropsie and Scurvy, are proper for this Disease, wherefore I shall for∣bear prescriptions here.

CHAP. XIII. Of Dropsies.

THE Dropsie is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, * ab 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 aqua, quod nomen sumpsit ab a∣quoso humore Cutis.

The Ancients have assigned three sorts of Dropsies.

1. The first is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 * uter, pellis.

'Tis called in Latin aqua intercus, ex inter & cutis, because the Water is between the Skin and the Flesh.

This is the most proper Dropsie, in which the Abdomen, Secrets, Thighs and Legs are affected.

2. The second is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, quod tumor est ad similitudinem tympani, vel tympani sonum referens.

As this is the most rare, so 'tis the most cruel and afflictive.

Page  212 3. The third is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ab 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 per, & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 caro, quod hydrops toto corpore diffusus; It is also called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ex 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 album, & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, phlegma vel pit uita; because it is caused of white Phlegm gathered in all parts of the Body.

Some Authours make a difference between Anasarca, and Leucophlegmatia; that Anasarca is caused by a serous humour, and Leucophleg∣matia by a phlegmatick and more viscous humour; but all Dropsies except Tympanies seem to me, to be little less than a distinction of degrees of one and the same Disease. *

The Ancients did take the Liver to be the chief part male-affected in these distempers; but Helmont (who was happy in a remedy to cure it) doth severely reprove them, and is so bold to tax the whole Schools with the ignorance of Anatomical dissections; he ha∣ving inspected many Carcases of dropsical Persons (of whom he makes distinct men∣tion) doth assert the Livers of them all no∣way vitiated, and therefore he concludes the Liver faultless in dropsical affects; and he derives the Cause of Dropsie to be an ob∣struction of the Kidneys with the Stone or Gravel; and so the water which should be transferr'd through the Kidneys, to the Blad∣der, (to be evacuated by pissing) is forced into the Cavity of the Abdomen.

But experience teacheth that Dropsies may Page  213 be caused many ways; wherefore I shall betake my self to a more evident description thereof.

The causes of Dropsies are either external, * or internal.

The external Cause is the Constipation of the porous Skin, impeding transpiration, whereby the discharge of sweaty Vapours through the Habit of the Body is lessned and interrupted; hence what moisture is usually carried off by sweating, doth rebound in∣wards, and condense into an Ichorous water, and is there (by degrees) aggravated and increased, through the hindrance of the ne∣cessary transpiration; till at length a great quantity of water is accumulated, and stagna∣ting in the affected parts, in time may work farther alterations on the subjected Bowels.

Matter of fact hath evinced this to me, having cured several Hydropical patients onely by sweating, and external applications.

The internal Cause of the Dropsie, may be over viscous Chyle, or Phlegm of the Guts, coagulated in the lacteal Veins, and causing an obstruction in more or fewer of their Branches, so that the Liquour rising ei∣ther from the continual Conflux of Choler, the Juice of the Pancreas, and the Phlegm of Spittle; or else from Chyle, or from drink plentifully drunk, being stopt and intercep∣ted in its motion, it doth by degrees more Page  214 and more distend the Vessels, that at length they burst; and the moisture receiv'd into them, is poured out between the Membranes of the Mesentery, and presently after into the Cavity of the Abdomen.

This disease is sometimes suddenly pro∣duc'd by much drinking in a burning Fever, join'd with an urgent and permanent Thirst.

After the same manner (though difficult to be known) may a Dropsie of the Breast be caused, viz. by an obstruction of the la∣teral Lymphatick Vessels, by glutinous Phlegm carried together with Lympha into the said Vessels, and there coagulated, by which the motion of Lympha is hindred, so that the Lymphatick vessels being much distended, by the great quantity of Lympha gathered in them, at length they burst, and the Lympha piercing (through the Pleura) into the Cavity of the Breast, procureth a Dropsie in it.

The cause of a Tympany is wind, together * with a serous humour piercing through the Guts into the Cavity of the Belly, and being there detained, it is more and more rarified, by which the Peritonoeum is not onely expan∣ded, but the whole Abdomen inflated, and violently distended.

Page  215 The signs of Ascites, are swelling and * fluctuation of the Belly, difficult breathing, a dry Cough accompanied sometimes with a symptomatical Fever, and great Thirst.

The signs of Anasarca are weakness, faint∣ness, * and swelling of the whole Body, which being pressed with the Finger, it doth pit, and leave an impression, breathing is also diffi∣cult, with a continual Fever.

In a Tympany the Belly is distended, and * being struck upon, there is a noise like a lit∣tle Drum.

1. Every Dropsie is difficult of Curation, * especially if it hath been of long continu∣ance.

2. If the Hydropical persons have a good digestion, and void more moisture both by stool and urine, than they either eat or drink, it is a hopefull sign of recovery, & e con∣tra.

Dropsies may be cured by strong Hydra∣gogues, * Sudorificks, and Bathing, and some∣times by a Paracenthesis or boring the Belly.

The Best Hydragogues are prepared of Elder, Dwarf-elder, Jallop-roots, Elaterium, Gum-gutty, Crystals of Silver, &c. of which you may prepare purging Infusions, Pills, &c. for example.

Take the Roots of Flower-de-luce, Dwarf-Elder, * Madder, Liquorish, the five opening Page  216 Roots, of each one ounce. the tops of Saint John's wort, Centaury the less, Agrimony, the best Senna, of each one handfull; the Barks of Capers, Ash, Tamarisk, Cinamon, of each six drachms; Flowers of Beans, Elder, Dwarf∣elder, Broom, of each half a handfull; seeds of sweet Fennel, Parsley, Gromwell, Juniper-Berries, of each one ounce and half; Cloves, Salt of Tartar, of each half an ounce; let them be cleansed, bruised and infused in two quarts of White-wine, for two or three days; then strain it, and add Syrup of Succory with Rhubarb, six ounces; mix it, and give four ounces of it in the morning fasting.

If any like Pills better, I commend the following.

Take the Resins of Jallop, and Scammony, * Tartar vitriolated, Mercur. dulcis, of each half a drachm; Oil of Juniper one scruple; make it into Pills with Venice-Turpentine, of which you may give twenty grains at a time, in the morning fasting.

The following Pills are also very effectual.

Take of Elaterium, Gambogia, Resin of Jallop, * of each ten grains; Oil of Nutmegs six drops; make it into Pills with Venice-Turpentine for two doses.

The obstructions in the Lacteal veins, or Lymphatick vessels, may be cur'd by Me∣dicines that do powerfully cut, and happily open the said obstructions.

Page  217 This Aromatick Sudorifick may be com∣mended for these intentions.

Take the waters of Treacle, Scurvigrass, * Fennel, of each one ounce; waters of Par∣sley, Fumitory, of each two ounces; dis∣till'd Vinegar half an ounce; Syrups of the juice of Carduus, and the five opening Roots, of each six drachms; Powder of Crabs-eyes, Antimony Diaphoretick, Salt of Amber, Beans, Worm-wood, of each one scruple; Spirits of Salt Armoniack, Niter, of each twenty drops; mix it, and give four spoon∣fulls of it every two or three hours.

After the Vessels are freed from the noted obstruction by the medicines before-men∣tion'd, or such like; they will be easily con∣solidated again by conglutinating food, in which you may boyle the Roots of Comfry, Plantain, and Solomon's Seal, for the more quick and easie cure.

In a Tympany, the dulcifi'd Spirit of Niter is excellent, being taken in Broth or Sack, three or four times in a day, from six to twelve drops at a time, for it doth cor∣rect both Phlegm and Choler, and hinder Wind in its rise, and dissipate it when it is bred.

Also the following exemplary Julep doth curb and discuss Wind, remaining as well in the Stomach as Guts.

Take the Waters of Mint, Fennel, of * Page  218 each four ounces; the Carminative Spirit of Sylvius, Syrup of the juice of Mints, of each two ounces; Laudanum opiat. eight grains; Spirit of Niter one drachm; Salt of Amber half a drachm; Chymical Oil of Mace ten drops; mix it, and take three or four spoonfulls every three hours.

You may prepare a Medicinal Wine for the rich, very beneficial in Dropsies.

Take the Seeds of Anise, Fennel, Cara∣way. * Coriander, Berries of Bays, and Juni∣per, of each two ounces: Salt of Tartar half an ounce; let them be bruised, and infu∣sed in three pints of White-wine, for three days, then strain it, and add Spirit of Niter half an ounce; Salt of Amber two drachms; Syrup of Mint three ounces; mix it, and take four or five spoonfulls of it often.

Sweating is very profitable in all Dropsies, either in Bed, with the forementioned Sudo∣rifick, or in a Bagnio, or Hot-house, by which the water standing beside nature in any part of the Body, will (by degrees) be emptied through the pores of the Skin.

Also it may be necessary, especially in persons more elderly, to use warm Baths. That which is prescrib'd for the cure of the Belly-ach in page 201, 202. is also very profi∣table in Dropsies; into the which it may be agreeable to descend at evening, before Bed∣time, and there to continue so long as the Page  219 Patient can well endure without fainting; after which Frications may have their pro∣per use, and great benefit.

And to strengthen the cutaneous Fibres, and restore their true tone, for their better service of the offices of Nature: let the af∣fected parts be anointed with the following fragrant Balsamick Ointment.

Take of Flanders Oil of Bays, Nerve-oil, * Oil of Earth-worms, of each two ounces; Oil of Mace by expression, half an ounce; mix it.

Galen commendeth a Cataplasm of Snails bruised with their shells, and laid upon the Navel.

But a Pultess prepar'd of the ingredients of the Bath, and applied to the affected parts, will be more effectual to discharge the Ichorous water.

Or you may make a Cataplasm after this manner.

Take the tops of Elder, Dwarf-elder, Ver∣vain, * Worm-wood, Chamomel, of each two handfulls; Horse-radish-roots four ounces; let them be cleansed, bruised and boiled in two quarts of the juice of Wild∣cucumbers, till they are very tender, then strain it, and beat them very well, and add Barley-meal, one pound; and with the same liquor boil it into the consistence of a Pultess.

Let the Patients diet be drying, and let Page  220 them drink moderately; you may infuse Juniper-berries, Tamarisk and Elicampane∣roots in their ordinary drink.

And for the benefit of those Physicians and Chirurgeons, that live in the West-Indies; there groweth (almost every where in moist places) a large Cane, much like the Sugar-cane; the Planters generally call it the dumb Cane, because they that taste it, are presently dumb, and unable to speak for two or three hours; after which the Tongue returns to its former use and volubility with∣out any prejudice.

The reason why this remarkeable Plant doth so affect the Tongue upon the touch of it, is its power of attracting such plen∣ty of moisture into it, as doth distend all the Vessels thereof, and render it immovea∣ble, till the crouded moisture be gradually discharged.

Hence we may conjecture, and indeed ex∣perience teacheth, that of this Plant may be prepared diversity of medicines as Cata∣plasms, Oils, Ointments, &c. Which will be effectual to attract, and easily and kindly discharge the swollen part of the Ichorous water; which may be used for some time after the evacuation of it, the better to pre∣vent a farther accumulation, or return of the Disease.

Page  221 Likewise may medicines be prepared, (by a skilfull Artist) of this Plant, very effectu∣al to be taken inwardly, not onely against Dropsies, but the Scurvy, Gout, &c.

If these choice medicines are not to be had, and nothing be effected by other means; A harmless Paracenthesis may be instituted in the Dropsie of the Breast, or Abdomen; provided the Apertion be made by such a little hollow instrument as is describ'd in page 81, 82. of the Cure of the Pleurisie, for by such a small wound, there is no danger to the sick.

But this operation must not be delay'd, lest the humour collected, get an hurtfull Acrimony, and by degrees corrode and corrupt the Membrane, and hence the sub∣stance of all the parts contain'd, and so make the Disease incurable.

CHAP. XIV. Of the Scurvy, and Hypochondriack Suffoca∣tion, commonly called the Fits of the Mother.

THE Scurvy being a Hypochondriack disease, it will not be amiss to treat of them together.

The Scurvy is called in Latin Scorbutus; it is a Complication, or Concatenation of Diseases, generated by the Conjunction of divers Causes contributing to a scorbutick Deformity.

The Scurvy is generated, or planted essen∣tially in the vital Principles, or digestive Offices, and therefore it is not discerned by sense, but the effects are distributed through∣out the Body, and are augmented more or less, according to the strength and debility of parts, to resist or consent and be de∣praved.

The Hypochondriack suffocation is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, vel quod * ad Hypochondria pertinet, vel sub cartilagine fita fit.

It is called by the Latins Hypochondriaca melancholia.

The Ancients thought that this was an uterine disease, in quibus mulieres uteri fuffo∣catione Page  223 laborant; and therefore it was called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and in Latin morbus Hystericus, vel Hysterica passio; and in English 'tis called Fits of the Mother; it being most subject to Women, from the suppression of their month∣ly Courses.

But because men are also molested with longing, and suffer often both the Sense and Disease of Suffocation, especially when they become Cachectick, or of ill habit of Body: and also they are cured with the same medi∣cines, that Women are cured with, when they are vexed with this distemper, there∣fore I think this suffocation may be more properly called Hypochondriacal.

It may be called the Mother of the Scurvy, because the vital Principles (in this disease) are seduced to declension and deviation from their rectitude, the digestive offices being all depraved.

The causes of these diseases are either ex∣ternal, * or internal.

The external, are sometimes a sedentary studious, and melancholy life, by which the vital Principles do receive much prejudice, decay and fall off from their functions, and become languid and feeble; also the Air be∣ing infested with noxious Vapours, is a pro∣curing cause of these distempers; for such Air being drawn into the Body by inspirati∣on, doth commix with the spirits, and de∣bilitate Page  224 and deprave the faculties, from whence Scorbutick and Hypochondriack effects do ensue; and as the Body is per∣spirable or impervious, these diseases are more or less varied, and remitted in their Symp∣toms; and therefore the constipation of the pores, prohibiting transpiration, is a parti∣al organical cause of preternatural Spots in the Scurvy, which appear chiefly upon the Thighs and Legs; not from the gra∣vity of the material cause, and ponde∣rous propension of gross matter downwards; but because those parts are more weak in their assimilation, being remote from sup∣ply of vital Spirits, therefore they have the first tokens of defection.

The internal Cause is a vitious quality of all the humours, and also of the Animal spirits, which are confus'd with the bloud, and communicate their faultiness to it, by which the bloud is also vitiated, so that the nourishment of the Body is deprav'd several ways, according to the variety of the quality peccant; in which the colour of the native Skin, and especially of the face languisheth, and is changed pale.

In these diseases, not onely the appetite of food, but its fermentation is also deprav'd; wherefore Anxieties about the Midriff and Hypochondries, and a pressing pain of the Heart will soon follow.

Page  225 For when the food is ill fermented, and driven forward through the small Gut, it is confus'd with the Juice of the Pancreas and Choler, which are a like vitious, the Pan∣creatick juice being too sharp and acrid, and the Bile over thick and salt; from whence the separation of usefull and unusefull parts, is not onely corrupted, but also by the vitious Effervescency of these humours, are rais'd manifold halituous Vapours, which do not onely increase the fore describ'd Anxiety, but being carried to the Heart do breed a Palpitation of it, whence it circu∣lates through the Lungs, and causeth a dif∣ficulty of breathing, and thence being dri∣ven every way, it causeth a weariness in all parts of the Body; and if an Acrimony of the humours do concur, then it is manifested internally with pain.

The cause of the inordinate effervescency of Bloud, in the Hypochondriack suffocation, is not onely the unequal flowing of Lympha, but also of the Liquour rising out of the threefold humours, vitiously effervescing in the small Gut, from whence vitious Va∣pours are sent to the right Ventricle of the Heart, and procure a great Confusion, and disturbance in it; hence followeth a notable Palpitation of the Heart, by which some∣times the Effervescency of Bloud seemeth to cease in the right Ventricle for a time, with Page  226 its motion and pulse, and also respiration is taken away to outward sense.

The symptoms and signs of these diseases are very many, yet are never seen to con∣cur in one and the same Body.

The usual signs are pain of the Head, pal∣pitation of the Heart, puffing up of the Sto∣mach, Loathing, Vomiting, Belching, Hic∣ket, Cough, Tumour and Putrefaction of the Gums, with much spitting; looseness and blackness of the Teeth, and sometimes great pain in them; the breath stinketh, and is sometimes fetched with much difficulty; also Convulsions, Palsie, Gout, Dropsies, and all other obstructions; sometimes the Co∣lick, and trembling and looseness of the Lims, with red purple spots dispersed; also the Pleurisie, pain of the Hypochondries, and also of many of the external parts, as the Neck, Arms, Hands, Thighs, Legs, Feet and Anckles, with laziness, and often faint sweats; there is also sometimes malign Ul∣cers, dry hard Tubercles, Erisipelas and Ede∣matous tumours with many others, which to enumerate, were to comprehend an uni∣versal Genus of Atomes, within a very nar∣row Limitation.

1. These diseases (for the most part) are of long continuance, and are seldom cured, * and therefore may be called the disgrace of Physicians.

Page  227 2. If the Patient hath a continual pain and giddiness of the Head, it doth threaten an Epilepsie, or Apoplexy.

3. The more aged the sick are, the more grievous are the Symptoms, and the more dangerous and difficult to be cured.

4. Vomiting, Flux of the Belly, and He∣morrhoids, if they are moderate, are hope∣full signs of recovery.

In some Regions, these diseases are com∣plicated with most other distempers, or at least do easily degenerate into them, by which they are rendred the more difficult of curation.

As for the Cure of these stubborn and re∣bellious * diseases, the sick must observe a good diet, without which Physical means will profit but little; and here we may also ob∣serve, that no Aliments, or Medicines (whe∣ther altering or purging) will be very profi∣table, unless specifick Antiscorbuticks be mixed with them.

The best Antiscorbutick simples, are the Roots of Horse-radish, Butter-bur, Liquo∣rish, Dandelion, Scorzonera, China, Zedoary, Angelica, Elicampane, Polypodium, the five opening Roots; the Wood and Bark of Gui∣acum and Sassaphras, the Herbs Scordium, Scurvigrass, Brook-lime, Water-cresses, Sor∣rel, Rue, Fennel, Golden-rod and Penny∣royal; Fruits of Oranges, Limmons, Pom∣citrons, Page  228 Pomgranates, Apples, &c. Seeds of Mustard, Angelica, Radish and Juniper-berries, cum multis aliis; of which may be prepared diversity of good medicines both Chymical and Galenical.

The volatile Salts both of Animals, and Vegetables, are excellent to open all obstruc∣tions, and temper the humours; Also Elix∣ir proprietatis, the Spirit of Salt Armoniack, Horse-radish and Scurvigrass, the Spirit of Niter and of Salt dulcified, Salt of Steel, Wormwood, and Tartar, Oil of Juniper, Cloves, and Cinamon, are all Specifick Antiscorbuticks.

The Hypochondriack suffocation having great affinity with the Scurvy, the same medicines are proper for both.

The following Julep is both Diaphoretick, and Diuretick, and very profitable for the sick in these diseases, to be taken two or three days in a week.

Take the Waters of Penny-royal, Scurvi∣grass, * Treacle, Syrup of the juice of Fennel, of each two ounces; Tincture of Castor, half an ounce; Oils of Amber, Mace, and Cloves, of each six drops; Spirit of Salt Ar∣moniack, twenty drops; mix it, and give three spoonfulls every two or three hours.

This Electuary may also be prefer'd.

Take of Conserves of Scurvigrass, three * ounces; Confectio Alkermes, half an ounce; Page  229 Powder of Crabs-eyes, two drachms; Flow∣ers of Salt Armoniack, Tarter vitriolated, of each half a drachm; Spirit of Castor one drachm; Oil of Cloves twenty drops; mix it, and give two drachms morning and evening.

After the frequent use of this Electuary, you may purge with this Powder.

Take Powder of Cream of Tartar, half a drachm; Salts of Wormwood, Amber, * Scurvigrass, Resin of Scammony, of each ten grains; mix it for two doses.

If the Patient like Pills better, these may serve. For Example.

Take Extract. Catholicon, Rudii, of each ten grains; Resin of Jallop, Agarick, Salt Armoniack, of each six grains; Oils of Am∣ber, Cloves, of each two drops; make it in∣to eight Pills, for two doses.

A Medicinal Wine may be prepar'd very effectual in these distempers.

Take of Water-cresses, Brook-lime, Scur∣vigrass, * Rue, of each one handfull; Roots of Polypodium, Jallop, Horse-radish, Angeli∣ca, Cream of Tartar, of each half an ounce; white Nettle-seed, one ounce; Orange-peel, Cinamon, Salt of Tartar, of each two drachms; let them be cleansed, bruised and infused, in three quarts of White-wine, for two or three days, then strain it, and give four spoonfulls in the morning fasting.

In the Hypochondriack suffocation, you Page  230 may often hold to the Nostrils, a glass with a narrow mouth, containing the Spirit of Salt Armoniack; for by its sharp smell, the sick for the most part are wont to be rais'd, both from that suffocation, and from the Epilepsie.

If the Gums are putrified, let the mouth be washed with the following Tincture, mix∣ed with some Plantain water, and Syrup of Mulberries.

Take Powder of Gum Lacca, one ounce; * burnt Alome half an ounce; the small Spi∣rit of Salt Armoniack, one quart; let them digest together 'till it be of a red colour, then filtrate it through brown paper, and keep it for use.

If the sick hath a costive Body, you may administer a Carminative Clyster once or twice a week.

In pains of the Belly and Hypochondries, this linament is effectual.

Take Oils of Earth-worms, Scurvigrass, * Chamomel, of each one ounce; Oil of Mace by expression half an ounce; mix it, with which anoint the parts affected.

This Antiscorbutick water will be very profitable, to be taken two or three spoon∣fulls at a time, morning and evening.

Take the Barks of Ash, and Capers, the Roots of Tamarisk, Polypodium, Horse-radish, * of each three ounces; Water-cresses, Scurvi∣grass, Page  231 Brook-lime, Sorrel, Centaury the less, Harts tongue, of each four handfulls; Ber∣ries of Bays and Juniper, Goose-dung, of each one ounce; the Seeds of Citrons, Mus∣tard, Carduus benedictus, Cloves, Cinamon, Nutmegs, Ginger, of each half an ounce; let them be cleansed, bruised and digested, in one Gallon of White-wine, and two quarts of Spirit of wine, being close covered for three days; then distill them with a glass Still according to art, and keep it for your use.

Frictions, Ligatures, Ventoses, Sternuta∣tories, &c. are all profitable to stir up the sick in the Hypochondriack suffocation.

CHAP. XV. Of the Green-sickness, and Suppression of the Courses.

THE Green-sickness is called in Latin Icteris, & Febris alba; In English the Virgin's Disease, the White Fever, and the White Jaundice; because in this disease the native colour of the Face is pale.

This disease is caused either from defect of Bloud, or it proceedeth from plenty of * Page  232 crude, viscous, phlegmatick humours, ob∣structing the veins about the Womb, by which the courses are supprest; the veins of the Ma∣trix being obstructed, that superfluous Bloud which nature hath ordained to be evacuated that way, having not passage, doth return to the greater Vessels, and is circulated with the whole mass of Bloud and humours, by which they are in time vitiated, and a Ca∣chexie or ill habit of body is thence caused; for the Bloud and natural humours, being indued with a vitious quality, the nourish∣ment of all the parts of the body will be deprav'd several ways, according to the va∣riety of the quality peccant; whence like∣wise not onely the fermentation of Food, but also the Appetite of it is deprav'd; where∣fore Anxieties and Palpitation of the Heart, &c. troubleth the sick, as well before as after Food taken in.

This distemper may be also caused by ex∣ternal coldness of the air, &c. and sometimes great fear, and sudden shame may be the cause of the suppression; also aliments, and medi∣caments that are too astringent taken in∣wardly.

In these diseases the Urine cometh away * crude, thick and less colour'd, because the phlegmatick, watry humours abounding, incorporating with the Bloud, do dimi∣nish the desired effervescency; so that the Page  233 separation, much less excretion of the ex∣crementitious parts, to be voided together with Urine, doth not follow.

If the Hypochondries be afflicted, and the veins of the Womb obstructed, there will be great loathing of wholsome Food, and a desire after those things which ought not to be eaten, as Ashes, Salt, Coals, &c. which is called Pica, and in Women with Child Malacia, of which we have hinted in the Chapter of Hungar Vitiated, page 145, 146.

1. These distempers are sometimes of long * continuance, causing much weakness, and oft times barrenness in them that have been so afflicted: and if they do conceive, they bring forth weak and sickly Children, and those that are very melancholy, are in dan∣ger of falling into madness, or other grie∣vous affects, as Palpitation of the Heart, Swouning, Vertigo, Epilepsie, Apoplexy, &c.

2. If the obstruction be onely of the ves∣sels of the Womb, and have not been of long continuance, it may be easily cur'd.

3. Bleeding at the Nose, is sometimes beneficial, but if the Bloud doth disburthen it self by the Eyes, Ears, Mouth, or Bladder, it is preposterous, from whence may arise other bad Symptoms.

In the cure of these distempers such medi∣cines * are to be selected, which will mildly Page  234 (and by degrees) alter, correct and evacu∣ate, tough and glutinous Phlegm, seeing that all prolong'd diseases depend on it, ei∣ther wholly, or at least in part; for by the frequent use of such medicines, the Bloud and peccant humours will be the easier re∣duc'd to their natural constitution; especial∣ly by the help of good Food, easy of diges∣tion: in the mean while, not neglecting the moderate use of the rest of the nannatural things.

An obstruction of the Vessels by viscous Phlegm, may be cur'd by the frequent use of such medicines as have power to loosen the peccant humours, and again make them fluid.

All fixt metallick and mineral Sulphurs, and also volatile Salts, prepar'd not onely of several parts of Animals, but also of scorbu∣tick Plants, (such as are the juice of Hedge∣mustard, Scurvigrass, Garden and Water∣cresses, Dandelion, &c.) conduce before all others, to loosen and dissolve Phlegm coa∣gulated, or Bloud clotter'd, as having an e∣gregious power of dissolving all things coa∣gulated, and conglutinated in humane bodies, and of reducing the same to their wonted fluidity, and moreover to move sweat, which together being mildly promoted, the desi∣red dissolution of the aforesaid viscous hu∣mours, &c. will be obtained much easier, and sooner.

Page  235 An example of such a Sudorifick I have here set down for the sake of young Practi∣tioners.

Take the Waters of Treacle, Dandelion, * Parsley, Scurvigrass, Fennel, Syrups of Hedge-mustard, white Poppies, of each half an ounce; Spirit of Salt Armoniack, Harts∣horn, of each ten drops; Laudanum opiatum, four grains; mix it.

The following is also very effectual.

Take the Waters of Fennel, Hyssop, of each two ounces; distill'd Vinegar six drachms; the Carminative-water of Sylvius half an ounce; Syrup of the five opening Roots one ounce and half; Powder of Crabs-eyes one drachm; Sperma Coeti, Mummy, Anti∣mony Diaphoretick, of each one scruple; Laudanum opiat. four grains; mix it.

Let the sick often take two spoonfulls of either of these mixtures, especially in bed, to promote the power of the medicine, and to facilitate a sweat; by the help whereof the mention'd power of the Sudorifick will the better come to the place of obstruction, and will attenuate, loosen, and make fluid the mat∣ter obstructing; the whole Mass of Bloud will also become more fluid and moveable, being rarefi'd by the volatile Salt of the medicine.

If the Patient be plethorick, let the Sa∣phoena vein be opened, for by opening and breathing a Vein, the motion and circulation Page  236 of the Bloud will be the better restor'd; for a larger space being made for the universal Bloud, it will circulate more swiftly and po∣tently.

The phlegmatick viscous humours must be corrected, and evacuated by Phlegma∣gogues.

The following medicines are of great efficacy.

Take of Salts of Mugwort, Ash, Amber, Tartar vitriolated, of each ten grains; Pow∣der * of Cream of Tartar, white Sugar-candy, of each half a drachm; mix it, and give it in white Wine in the morning fasting.

The next day you may administer the fol∣lowing Pills.

Take of pil. foetidoe, ex duobus, of each half a drachm; Amber, prepar'd Steel, Borax, * Mercur. Dulcis, of each one scruple; Mirrh, Castor, Saffron, of each twelve grains; Oil of Cloves, Spirit of Salt Armoniack, of each six drops; make it into ten Pills for two do∣ses, which may be taken in the Morning fasting.

If a medicinal Wine be acceptable to the sick, the following or one like it may be used.

Take the Roots of Horse-radish, the five opening Roots, of each one ounce; Savin, * Vervain, Penny-royal, Hyssop, Calamint, Mugwort, of each one handfull; Senna, Page  237 Cinamon, sweet Fennel-seeds, Juniper-berries, Orange-peel, Liquorish, of each half an ounce; let them be cleansed, bruised and infused in one Gallon of White-wine for three days, then strain it, and keep it for use.

You may add more wine to the ingredi∣ents so long as there is any Aromatick taste.

Four or five spoonfulls of this Wine may be taken two or three times a day, with which you may mix Salt of Tartar vitriola∣ted ten grains; Elixir proprietatis six drops.

If you expect a laudable success, you must persevere awhile in the use of these, or such like medicines.

CHAP. XVI. Of the immoderate menstrual Flux, and the Whites in Women.

THE monthly terms being immode∣rate, may be called in Latin mensium fluxus immodicus.

And the Whites in Women Alboe mulie∣rum fluxiones.

The causes of too many Courses are either * external, or internal.

Page  238 The external Causes may be by an Ulcer in the Matrix, or some outward Violence, and sometimes by too much Coition.

The internal Causes are either a sharp se∣rous humour abounding in the Bloud, in∣creasing its fluidity, or else an over great heat in the Womb, stirring up a more potent, and therefore a swifter rarefaction of Bloud, provoking an expulsion of it, either by brea∣king, (or some other preternatural opening) of the vessels of the Womb.

The white Flux of the Womb, is an excre∣mentitious humour flowing from it.

This distemper is subject not onely to Wo∣men, but sometimes to Maids also.

These humours may be bred in the * Womb, either by a cold or hot distemper therein.

The cold doth render it unable to digest its nourishment.

A hot Distemper corrupteth it, hence cometh this excrementitious humour.

Also Abortion, Contusion, Inflammation, Imposthume or Ulcer in the Womb, may weaken and dispose it to breed such hu∣mours.

The signs that distinguish between this * Distemper, and an Ulcer in the Womb, and Gonorrhoea, are these.

1. If there be an Ulcer there, the Womb will not admit of Coition, without pain, and Page  239 the matter which floweth from her is strin∣gy, and more digested, and sometimes bloudy.

2. In the Gonorrhoea, the seminal matter cometh in a small quantity, and seldom, ex∣cept it be gotten by acting with an unclean Person, then the Urine is sharp, with many other malignant Symptoms.

All long Hemorrhagies of Bloud are dan∣gerous, * especially those of the Womb; If it be caused by exulceration, and be in elder∣ly Women, 'tis incurable.

The white Flux is not very dangerous, but is often difficult of curation, especially in old Women, because they abound with Phlegm; and 'tis hard to divert the humours from this Chanel, it being the sink of the body, through which the superfluous hu∣mours of a healthy Woman are every month evacuated.

If this distemper continue long, it may breed great evils, as Barrenness, Falling out of the Womb, &c.

These diseases may be both cured by the * same medicines.

If the courses have continued too long, the following mixture will soon stop the flux of Bloud, and will cure most rup∣tions of vessels.

Take the Waters of Plantain, Comfry, of * each three ounces; Cinamon-water, Syrups Page  240 of Mirtles, Quinces, of each one ounce and half; distill'd Vinegar one ounce; red Coral prepar'd one drachm; Dragons Bloud one scruple; Laudanum opiat. six grains; mix it, and give three spoonfulls every four hours.

When the flux of Bloud is stopt, you may purge with the following.

Take of Manna one ounce; Powder of * Rhubarb tosted, Cream of Tartar, of each half a drachm; Resin of Jallop four grains; mix it, and take it in broth.

If the Patient like Pills, I commend the following.

Take Resins of Jallop and Scammony, ex∣tract of Rhubarb, Agarick, Salt of Amber, * Powder of Dragons-bloud, of each ten grains; Oil of Mints six drops; with Syrup of Rhubarb, let it be made into twelve Pills for three doses.

After purging, these Astringents will be profitable.

Take of Cinamon, the Roots of Bistort, Tor∣mentile, * Rhubarb, Seeds of Plantain, Dill, Flowers of red Roses, Balaustins, red Coral, sea∣led Earth, whitest Amber, Harts-horn, Gum∣dragon and Arabick, of each two drachms; Saccharum Saturni, Dragons-bloud, Salt Pru∣nella, of each two scruples; Laudanum opiat. Camphire, of each ten grains; let them be all finely powder'd and searced, and with Honey of red Roses, Syrups of Quinces and Page  241 Comfry, of each equal parts; let it be made into an Electuary according to Art.

Let the sick take the quantity of a Nut∣meg of this Electuary, every morning and evening, either upon the point of a knife, or dissolve it in two or three ounces of red Wine, to which you may add a few drops of Tincture of red Coral, and drink it.

This Julep is also of great virtue.

Take the Waters of Comfry, Plantain, * Oak-buds, Knot-grass, red Wine, of each four ounces; in which infuse red Rose-buds, Balaustins, Flowers of Comfry, Bugloss, of each one handfull, for the space of twenty four hours, then boil it gently for half an hour; strain it, and add Tincture of red Coral, Syrups of dried Roses, Comfry and Mirtles, of each two ounces; Oil of Vitriol twenty drops; mix it, and take six spoon∣fulls every three hours.

Let the Region of the Womb be anointed with this Linament.

Take Unguent. Comitissoe, Oil of Mirtles, * of each one ounce; Saccharum Saturni one drachm; Camphire ten grains; mix it.

After the part is anointed, let this Plaster be applied.

Take the Plaster against Ruptures, Dia∣palma, * of each one ounce; the carminative Plaster of Sylvius half an ounce; mix it, and spread it on leather, and apply to the region of the Womb.

Page  242 In the Whites, let this be used for a Fume.

Take of Olibanum, Amber, Cloves, of * each half a drachm; red Rose-buds, Balaus∣tins, of each two drachms; beat them all to∣gether into a gross powder; put a little of it at a time upon a pan of coles, and let the Woman sit over it.

CHAP. XVII. Of the Falling Down of the Womb and Fun∣dament.

IF the Womb falleth down, it may be called in Latin Procidentia Matricis. So likewise if the Fundament cometh down, it is called Procidentia Ani.

The Causes of these distempers are either * External or Internal.

The External Causes may be any violent exercise, with much striving, also falls or blows, on those parts; also bathing in cold water, &c.

The Internal Causes are serous and phleg∣matick humours, a Dysentery with a Tenas∣mus, the Whites continuing long, a violent drawing the Child, or After-birth out of the Womb; also much Sneezing or Coughing, especially in Child-bed; to conclude, all Page  243 things that may cause a Rupture or relaxa∣tion of the Ligaments of the Womb, or sphincter Muscle of the Anus, may be the cause of these griefs.

In a Procidentia Ani, there is always a * mucous and purulent dejection, from a phleg∣matick, viscous, and sometimes also a sharp acid humour adjoining about the seige, which often causeth a troublesome Ulcer by fretting.

In young people these distempers may be * easily cur'd, if they have not continued long, and do not come very far out, and be not ulcerated.

But if there be a Rupture of the Liga∣ments of the Womb, it is incurable; like∣wise great pain and inflammation are very difficult; and if either the Matrix or Anus be Gangrenated it is mortal, without speedy amputation.

You must begin the Cure with removing * the symptoms and discharging the Guts of their Excrements, either with Clysters or Lenitives.

Then anoint the part with some astrin∣gent Oils, and endeavour to reduce it gent∣ly by degrees.

The manner of the reduction every inge∣nious Artist knows, and therefore needs not any directions.

When the Womb is reduc'd it may be Page  244 kept with a Pessary fram'd of Cork as thick as necessary, and cover'd with Wax mixed with a little Castor, and Assafoetida, which may there continue.

If there be pain and inflammation, let the part be bathed with this.

Take the Flowers of Chamomel, Elder, of * each one handfull; Marsh-mallow-roots one ounce; Seeds of Flax and Foenugreek, of each half an ounce; boil it in two quarts of Milk till half be consumed, then strain it, and add Malaga Wine one pint; mix it.

Let Stuphs be moistned in this and wrung out and applied hot; after which apply a Plaster of ad herniam to the lower part of the Belly.

Before you reduce the Anus, anoint it with Oil of Mirtles and bestrew it with Powder of Album Groecum, or the following.

Take of red Roses, Pomgranat-rinds, Cy∣press-nuts, * Mastick, Crocus Martis, burnt Lead, of each half an ounce; beat them all into a fine powder.

A Bag quilted with the following astrin∣gents, and applied hot to either griev'd part three times a day, will conduce much to keep it up.

Take of Plantain, Sanicle, Buds of Oak * and Medlar, red Rose-buds, Balaustins, of each one handfull; Roots of Comfry, Tor∣mentil, Bistort, Cypress-nuts, Seeds of A∣nise, Page  245 sweet Fennel, of each one ounce; beat them all into a gross powder.

Inwardly may be given Astringents and Strengthners, but not in time of the courses; those prescrib'd against the immoderate flow∣ing of the Terms are good.

CHAP. XVIII. Of Barrenness.

BArrenness is called in Latin Sterilitas. It may be called in English Unfruitfull∣ness, it being an impotency of Conception.

We reade in the Scripture that the Wo∣men of old did think it a reproach to be Child∣less; and therefore when Elizabeth had con∣ceived who before was Barren, she said the Lord hath taken away my reproach among Men; as you may reade at large in the first Chap∣ter of Luke's Gospel.

Very few Women in a Marriage state but desire Children, yea some would give all they have in the world for a Child, and are very impatient if they do not Conceive.

Rachel said to Jacob in Gen. 30 ver. 1. give me Children, or else I dye.

I will now briefly shew you, what may be the cause of Sterility.

Page  246 1. First, want of Love between a Man and his Wife, way hinder Conception.

2. Any malignant distemper in the womb, may corrupt the Seed, and be the cause of Barrenness.

Some are of opinion that Witch-craft may be the cause.

But to conclude, the Whites or any moist distemper of the Matrix, may be the cause of Barrenness.

Sometimes the cause is in the Man, for if he doth want Sperm, or is unable to erect his Genital by reason of any weakness or distem∣per in his Secrets; or if he be effeminate and taketh little or no delight in the act of Venery, he is not fit for Venus School.

There are some Rules left by the Ancients to try whether a Woman be naturally Bar∣ren or no.

Hippocrates adviseth to put a Clove of Garlick or a little Galbanum into her Womb, and if her Breath do smell of it, be sure she is fruitfull.

If Barrenness be caused by any Disease af∣flicting either the man or the woman, then * there may be hopes of Conception when health is procured; but if it be evil shape of of the members in the woman, or the man not fit for Venus-School, patientia est optima virtus.

In the cure, you must endeavour to remove * Page  247 whatsoever hindreth Conception.

Many things are antipathetical to fecun∣dity, as Jet, Glow-worms, Saphires, Sma∣ragds, the Matrix of a Goat or Mule, like∣wise Vinegar, Mints, Watercresses, Beans, &c. all which I advise you to avoid, and make use of those things which have a peculiar virtue to help or cause Conception, and remove Barrenness.

The After-birth of a Woman dried and powdred, and taken often a drachm at a time; also the Stones and Liver of a Bore∣pig, the Juice of Sage, the Roots of Satirion and Eringo candied, are all good.

There are many medicines prescrib'd in Authours to help Conception.

Quercetanus doth commend this infusion.

Take the Matrix of a Hare and the Stones of a Ram prepar'd with Whitewine, of Ci∣namon, * Ginger, Mace, Cloves, Seeds of Bishops-weed, of each half an ounce; Saf∣fron two drachms; Kernels of Fistick-nuts one ounce; let them be all bruised and in∣fused in a quart of Muskadel-wine for two or three days; then strain it, and add more Wine to the ingredients for a second in∣fusion.

The following Electuary is also excellent.

Take the Roots of Satirion and Eringo * candied, of each one ounce; candied Ginger and preserv'd Nutmegs, of each two drachms; Page  248 Kernels of Hazle-nuts and Fistick-nuts, of each half an ounce; Powder of a Bull's-pizle, of Ivory, Seeds of Rocket, Bishops-weed, of each one drachm; Species Diambroe, Dia∣mosc. dulcis, of each six drachms; Confectio Alkermes one ounce and half; with Syrup of the juice of Citrons; make it into an E∣lectuary according to Art.

Let the Woman take the quantity of a Nutmeg of it every night going to bed, and drink a glass of Sack or Muskadel, or of the aforementioned Infusion after it.

If a cold and moist distemper of the Body and Womb, accompanied with the Whites be the cause, look for the cure in its proper Chapter.

If it be caused by Witchcraft, there are some things commended by Authours to be worn about the party against Fascination, viz. the Pizle of a Wolf, a Diamond, a Ja∣cinth-stone, Rue, Squills, Sea-holly, Saga∣penum, Amara dulcis, Hypericon, &c.

But above all, let fervent and devout Prayers be put up to the Throne of grace for help; and reject and despise Incantations or Charms, and all other Diabolical means.

CHAP. XIX. Of Abortion or Miscarriage.

ABortion is called in Latin Abortus, vel intempestivus foetus. Because it is an un∣timely Birth; the Child being brought forth, either dead or alive before its fit time of deli∣verance.

This is the worst Symptom, that attends breeding Women.

It may happen from the first Moment of Conception, to the end of the sixth Month; but it is most usual in the end of the third, or the beginning of the fourth Month.

The causes are either external, or internal. *

The external Causes are a great excess in things nonnatural, as too great Anger, Fear, and other Passions, or else it may be through defect; for if the Mother undergo Penury or Famine, or lose much Bloud, the Child wan∣teth Nourishment.

Many times things longed for, and not obtained, kill the Child.

Also strong purging Medicines, that pro∣voke the terms, and all fetid smells, falls, blows, lifting, carrying, dancing, running, riding or any other outward violence, may be the Cause of Abortion.

Page  250 The internal Causes may be the depraved∣ness of the humours, by which the Mass of Bloud becometh vitious; also Acute or Chro∣nick diseases, especially of the Womb; and also violent Coughing, Sneezing, Vomiting, Convulsions and Fluxes of the Belly, may loosen the Ligaments of the Womb, and so cause miscarriage.

The signs of Abortion at hand, are great * pain about the Loins, and Share-bones, some∣times with shivering; the Breasts growing little and flaggy, the Situation of the Child changed towards the Bottom of the Belly, with a bearing down, and evacuation of Bloud, &c.

1. Women who have moist and slippery * Wombs are most subject to miscarry, but with little danger, except it be the first Child, and that very big.

2. Much bleeding, with fainting, raving, or Convulsions is for the most part mortal.

To prevent Abortion; if there be an evil * disposition of the Body, or Womb, you must endeavour to remove it; if the Woman hath a plethorick Body, let a Vein be opened in the Arme, especially in the first six months.

If ill humours abound, purge often with gentle means.

This purging Infusion may serve.

Take of Cinamon, Rhubarb, Anise-seed, of each two drachms; let them be bruised, * Page  251 and infused in four ounces of Plantain-water very hot, for the space of a Night, then strain it, and add Syrup of Succory with Rhubarb, the best Manna, of each half an ounce; mix it, and give it in the Morning fasting.

Also the Pills prescrib'd in page 240. may be used in this case.

If the Woman be troubled with a Rheu∣matick distemper, accompanied with Wind; and if she be pretty strong, you may sweat her gently sometimes with this or such like Cordial Diaphoretick.

Take the Waters of Treacle, Carduus, Fen∣nel, * of each one ounce; Cinamon-water two drachms; Syrups of the Juice of Carduus, Coral, of each half an ounce; Confectio de Hyacintho half a drachm; Spirit of Niter six drops; Oil of Cinamon two drops; Lauda∣num opiatum three grains; mix it, and give to provoke sweat.

Let the Womb be strengthned with Cor∣dial Astringents: Those prescrib'd in page 239. 240. are excellent.

CHAP. XX. Of hard Travel in Child-birth.

HArd labour may be called in Latin partus, vel enixus laboriosus; quod ipse nitendi & pariendi actus.

The time of a natural Birth ought to be accomplished in the space of twenty four hours; if the Womans travel continue lon∣ger time with vehement pains and dangerous Symptoms, it may be called hard labour, or difficult Travel in Child-birth.

There are various Causes of hard Labour, sometimes tender Women by reason of pain, * are very fearfull, and do endeavour to hin∣der pains, and consequently the Birth also.

Sometimes the Child being weak or dead, and not following the Water in Due-time, before the passage be too dry may be the Cause; especially if the Mother be weak, by reason of any Disease afflicting her, or by too much Evacuation of Bloud, or there be not sufficient Motion of the Womb, and Mus∣cles of the Belly.

Sometimes the Child's head may be too big, or the passage too strait.

Also the Child may be turned in the Womb, and the Hands, Shoulders, Back, Page  253 Belly, or Buttocks, &c. may come forward to the Birth, and then the endeavour to bring forth will be painfull and difficult.

The signs of hard Labour are easily known; * if the Child do stir, and there be strong pains, and no water appear, the Secundine is strong.

If pains be weak, and long before they return, and more in the Back than Belly, the Infant is weak.

If the Woman be little, and her Husband big and full shouldred, then there is a great Child, which will cause tough work.

1. Hard travel in Child-birth is very dan∣gerous, * for sometimes the Mother, some∣times the Child, and many times both do lose their Lives.

2. If the Woman be in Travel above four days, the Child can hardly be alive; and therefore must be drawn away before it be too late; for if it be neglected, it will cause Fevers, Faintings, Convulsions, Sleepiness, &c. which are the Forerunners of Death.

3. If sneezing cometh of its own accord, it is a good sign of deliverance.

First give this Cordial to strengthen both the Mother and Child. *

Take Waters of Baum, Vervain, Cina∣mon, * of each two ounces; Syrup of Clove∣gilliflowers, Saffron, of each six drachms; Page  254 Spirit of Saffron, Confectio Alkermes, of each one drachm; mix it.

If the Child be situated on Os pubis, it must be removed, and all other unfit Postures must be rectified.

Then such things as hasten the Birth may be safely administred.

To encrease the Pains, and further the Womans Labour, I commend sneezing, and also the following Medicines.

Take the Livers of Eels prepar'd with Ci∣namon-water, * and dried, one drachm; Pow∣der of Borax, whitest Amber, Mirrh, Saf∣fron, Dittany of Crete, round Birth-wort, of each half a drachm; mix it, and give a Scruple of it at a time, in three spoonfulls of this Julep.

Take the Waters of Vervain, Mugwort, * of each two ounces; Syrup of Saffron one ounce; Confectio Alkermes one drachm; Ex∣tract of Saffron six grains; Oils of Cinamon, Amber, of each three drops; mix it.

Some things have a peculiar property to help the Birth; as the stone Aetites, Load∣stone, Storax, the Eyes of a Hare, &c. held near the privities.

The time being come, the Woman must be put into a posture, (which every Mid∣wife doth understand) and let her not labour too much, till strong pains come; and then Page  255 let her resolve on patience, and not be dis∣orderly in the time of her Travel.

If she be faint, you may give her some of the formention'd Cordial Julep to comfort her.

Let your hands be anointed with some Anodine Ointment.

After the water is broke, if the Head cometh with the Face towards Anus receive it; if not endeavour to place it right: Then turn your Finger round about the Child's head gently, to make way for the Birth.

If the Child cometh any other way, you must endeavour to gain the Feet, and bring it away with the Face towards Anus, as before mention'd.

The Child being born, you must bring away the Secundine gently by degrees, af∣ter which put a Closure to the Woman to prevent Cold from entring the Womb.

Then prepare her for the bed, and give her some Sperma Coeti, or Irish-slate in a little burnt White-wine with Cinamon.

If the Woman doth flood much, or be trou∣bled with after-pains, give her some of the following Cordial Opiate.

Take of small Cinamon-water, the waters * of red Poppies, Baum, of each two ounces; Syrups of Clove-gilliflowers, white Poppies, of each one ounce; Laudanum opiat. three grains; Oil of Cinamon two drops; mix it, and give three spoonfulls of it often.

Page  256 If the Child be born alive, after the Na∣vel string is secured, give the Child ten grains of prepar'd Coral in a little Breast milk, or black Cherry-water dulcifi'd with Syrup of Peony, to which you may add a little Oil of sweet Almonds new drawn.

If the Child be troubled with gripes, you may give it a little Powder of Anise-seed in the Pap.

But if the Child be dead, and the Labour gone; or if the Child's head be very big, and the passage too strait; so that the Midwife cannot doe her Office; you must then speedily implore the help of the Man-midwife, as we are called.

If a Woman in Child-bed hath a costive Body, give her a Suppository of Castile-soap, or Honey boiled; and after three or four days, you may administer, an emollient, carminative Clyster. *

If a Woman (after hard Travel) cannot hold her Urine, bathe her secret Parts and Region of the Womb with this or the like Decoction.

Take of Plantain, Comfry, Shepherds-purse, Tops of Brambles, Penny-royal, Rosemary, * Sage, Stoechas, of each one handfull; let them be cleansed, bruised and boiled in a Gal∣lon of Smiths-water, till half of it be boi∣led away, then strain it, and bathe the parts affected very warm with woollen Stuphs.

Page  257 Afterward anoint the grieved parts with this Linament.

Take the Ointment Comitissoe, Oil of Mace by expression, of each one ounce; Oils of Earth-worms, Foxes, Lillies, Goose-grease, of each half an ounce; mix it.

CHAP. XXI. Of Nephritick pains, and of the Stone in the Reins and Bladder.

DIseases of the Reins are called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Ren.

In Latin they are called morbus Renum, which comprehends not onely any Ach in the Kidneys, but also the Stone and Gravel in the Reins.

Nephritick pains may be caused divers * ways.

1. First by a sharp salt matter, or a sharp and serous Lympha in the Kidneys, which doth easily concrete into a Stone, especially when the Ferment of the Reins is much vi∣tiated; which may be known by those cruel torturing Fits, that come by intervals.

Page  258 2. Worms in the Kidneys, which for the most part arise from Bloud there corrupted, may be the cause of pain.

3. An Abcess or Tumour in the Kidneys, following an Inflammation, doth hinder the passage of Urine, and is always accompani∣ed with great pain.

4. It may also be caused by glutinous Phlegm, obstructing the fleshy parts of the Kidneys, and hindring the separation of U∣rine; so that it is not strein'd into the Fun∣nels of the Reins as usual, but is deprav'd and vitiated: Whence the natural descent of the Urine, through the Ureters into the urinal Bladder is also hindred.

The same also may happen sometimes by * a stone sticking in the Funnel, and stopping the entrance of the Ureters.

Although I think that Stones sticking in the Ureters themselves, cannot long hinder the passage of Urine; because it hath been found by experience, (in dissecting of dead Bodies) that Stones near the bigness of a Doves-egg; have been sticking in the Ure∣ters; by the sides of which Stones, Urine descended freely, which was evident, be∣cause the Ureter was no were distended, unless where the Stone did stick: Neither was there any Urine contain'd in the Ure∣ter, above the obstruction; besides when the Party was living, there was no stoppage of Urine.

Page  259 Those fits which come by intervals, are caused by a debility or vitiousness of the Fer∣ment of the Kidneys, which generates crude, salt and sharp matter, which causeth those cruel Tortures; and should all the Gravel and Stone come away, the pain would not be the less, untill the Kidneys themselves be reduc'd to their right temper: For many in perfect health have voided much Gravel at a time without the least pain, and there∣fore it is evident that Gravel is onely the pro∣duct, and not the producer or primitive cause of this pain.

The Symptoms of Nephritick pains are * so much like that caused by the Stone, that they cannot be easily distinguished; for the signs of both are great pain of the Loins, loathing or vomiting, there being a great consent between the Reins and Stomach.

The Patient often pisseth bloudy water, and when the Reins are ulcerated, the mat∣ter is often evacuated with the Urine.

Wherein the force of concreting or grow∣ing * together of Stones (in divers parts of the Body) consists, is not enough known; I will freely declare what I conjecture in this obscure matter, whereby I may (according to my power) the more help others (that are ingenious) to search out this hidden truth.

All the Stones that are generated in the Page  260 Body, may be dissolved in the sour Spirit of Salt Peter or Niter; whence I conclude that the Coagulation of Stones cannot be expected from an acid Spirit as such, there∣fore from another somewhat contrary to it in part at least.

If any consider the several things, that promote the growing together of natural things, they will find that such force is in tart things; whence the Glutinousness, and Toughness of fluid things is wont to be pro∣duc'd; to which if earthy, and volatile salt parts be join'd, something will be produc'd not much unlike Stones.

I incline therefore to this opinion, that an earthy and salt matter, join'd to that which is glutinous, groweth together into Stones by help of a tart humour.

Also Gravel of all kinds (that is usually seen in the bottom of Urine) testifieth that the conglobated Glandules are all affected, by a frequent external Cold, or else by sour things taken in, and when the Gravel is great it is then near to the Nature of Stones, yea sometimes groweth together into Stones, especially in cold phlegmatick Bodies, where (for the most part) it giveth Stones their first rising, and daily cherisheth their production, and increaseth them; and the more especi∣ally where a glutinous, stone-making faculty doth concur in the Body.

Page  261 Many Histories mention, that Stones are produced from a stone-making Spirit, or * Breath out of the Earth, which hath turned the Bodies of Men, Beasts and other things into Stone.

Riverius, (in his last edition) quoteth Aventius Annal. Bavar. lib. 7. Anno 1343. who saith, that above fifty Men, with many Cattle were turned into Stone.

Ortelius telleth the like story, that whole Herds in Russia have been turned into Stone.

And Camerarius reporteth, that in the Pro∣vince of Chilo in Armenia, at the blast of a South-wind (which happeneth four times in a Year) whole Troops of Horse have been turned into Statues of Stone, standing in the same warlike Posture, in which they were marching.

Children are most inclinable to this Mon∣ster in Nature, because they have much moisture, and weak digestions, which gene∣rate Crudities.

Stones are generated in many parts of the Body, as the Gall, Reins, Bladder, &c.

I once opened a Woman that had sixty * four Stones in her Gall.

I also dissected another whose Ureters were stony; and out of her Gall I took out a large Stone, and a small one (about the bigness of a Hazle-nut) out of the Neck of the Gall.

Page  262 1. These distempers are very dangerous, * and bring many sad Symptoms to the afflicted Patient; as great pain, inflamma∣tions, exulcerations, long watchings, weak∣ness, fevers, suppression of Urine, and Death it self.

2. Pain from acrid Lympha, &c. may be cured in those that are young, if the strength be not too much dejected, nor the Disease hereditary.

That we may now address our selves to * the Cure of these grievous Diseases; I would advise those who are not very skilfull in the Art of Physick, to forbear giving of any thing in these Distempers, without the Ad∣vice of an experienc'd Physician; for I believe many Stones have been bred in those Bo∣dies (who before were free from it, and were onely troubled with Nephritick pains) by the frequent taking of ill Medicines; for many Remedies have been invented to dis∣solve the Stone; but experience teacheth that they are most of them inimical to the Reins and Bladder, and debilitate their Ferment.

The solvent of the Stone ought to be ho∣mogenious, and so singular, that it submit not to any digestions, or fermental Powers, through which it passeth in its way to the parts affected; for the Virtue of all common Remedies taken at the Mouth, are alter'd and transmuted in passing three digestions: For Page  263 acid things, (from which much hath been hoped) as soon as they are past the Stomach, lose their acidity, and are converted into a saline Nature, so that the dissolving Pow∣er of the acid is wholly transmuted before it gets either to the Reins or Bladder.

Likewise those Medicines which are injec∣ted into the Bladder with a Syringe, ought to be agreeable to its Ferment, that it may not be painfull thereto; for if but a small quan∣tity of any sharp Medicine be injected, it stirreth up an intolerable Strangury, it being wholly foreign to the Ferment of the part.

And seeing the Stone, and all other Dis∣tempers of the Reins and Bladder, are wont to be bred, and increased in length of time; the Remedies which you administer must be long us'd, before you may have experience of their effects.

I will here set down some choice Medi∣cines, not onely to hinder the increase, but to dissolve small Stones in humane Bodies, if they be long enough us'd.

Amongst which we may deservedly at∣tribute the first place to Spirit of Niter (see∣ing Stones of any kind are so easily and manifestly broken and dissolved by it) which may commodiously be mixt in any ordinary Drink, or Wine and Broths, &c. to a light acidity; whose excellent effects all may ad∣mire.

Page  264 If the Patient have a costive Body, you may give the following Lenitive three or four times in a week.

Take of Cassia newly drawn one ounce; Venice Turpentine half an ounce; Crystal * prepar'd, Salt of Tartar vitriolated, of each one drachm; Oil of Juniper, Spirit of salt Armoniack, of each four drops; Spirit of Niter twenty drops; mix it for two doses.

The following is also very effectual.

Take of Cio-turpentine half an ounce; Powder of Rhubarb one drachm; the Yelk of one egg, mix it for two doses; give it in the morning fasting, and drink four ounces of this Julep after it.

Take the Decoction for Syrup of Marsh-mallows * one quart; the waters of Horse∣radish, Pellitory of the Wall, Speedwell, Winter-cherries, Syrups of Marsh-mallows and the five opening Roots, of each two ounces; Crystal prepar'd, Salt Prunella, of each half an ounce; tincture of Salt of Tar∣tar two drachms; Spirit of Niter twenty drops; Laudanum ten grains; mix it and give four or five spoonfulls of it often.

This Powder is also excellent.

Take Salt of Tartar vitriolated two drachms; Powder of Crabs-eyes, Salts of * Pigeons-dung, Broom, Beanstalks, Worm∣wood, of each half a drachm; mix it, and Page  265 give twenty grains of it every morning and evening in the foremention'd Julep.

If the Patient be plethorick, Phlebotomy may be used with good success.

If a Stone chance to stick in the Ureter, which causeth numbness, by its pressing up∣on the Muscle Psoas, and the Nerves,

In this Case, apply a Ventose on os Ilium, which may bring the Stone by degrees in∣to the Bladder; afterward anoint the parts grieved with Rabbets fat.

If the Stone in the Bladder be very big, there is little hopes of dissolving of it, where∣fore if the Patient (being in continual pain) be willing to submit to Lithotomy; I ad∣vise them to make choice of an experienc'd Artist; lest by Precipitancy the Ope∣ratour neglect to cleanse the Bladder, after the Extraction of the Stone; by the neglect of which, many have generated the Stone again, and have been forced to endure that dreadfull operation the second, and sometimes the third time, under which ma∣ny have died, and others who recovered, have never held their Urine.

In other Nephritick pains, if the fleshy parts of the Kidneys be obstructed, they may be opened by Diureticks, that cut, at∣tenuate, and make glutinous Phlegm fluid. For example,

Page  266 Take of Eringo-roots, the five opening Roots, of each one ounce; the Tops of A∣grimony, * the greater Celandine, of each two handfulls; the Berries of Juniper and Win∣ter-cherries, of each two drachms; let them be cleansed, bruised and boiled in two quarts of Fountain-water, till half be confumed; then strain it, and add Syrups of Marsh-mallows, and the five opening Roots, of each two ounces; Tincture of Salt of Tartar two drachms; Spirit of Niter twenty drops; mix it, and give four spoonfulls of it every morning and evening.

They who like Juleps better, may use this or the like.

Take the Waters of Fennel, Parsley, Pel∣litory * of the Wall, of each two ounces; the carminative Spirit of Sylvius, Syrups of Marsh-mallows, the five opening Roots, of each one ounce; Oil of Juniper, Spirit of Salt Armoniack, of each ten drops; Spirit of Niter twenty drops, Laudanum opiat. four grains; mix it, and give three spoonfulls every three or four hours.

The Patient may also drink freely of the mineral Diuretick-waters of Tunbridge, &c. which will conduce much to the Cure; espe∣cially if some old Diuretick-wine, and a lit∣tle oily Volatile Salt (made of Diuretick, Vegetables) be mixed with the water.

Page  267 When the glutinous Phlegm is prepar'd, and loosned, it may be educ'd with some convenient Phlegmagogue, either in the form of Pills or Potion, of which there are variety mention'd in page 3. and four, &c.

The fixt Sulphurs of Minerals and Metalls, exalted to their highest perfection, do (be∣fore all others) mildly temper all the hu∣mours; next to which oily Volatile Salts come, and Aromaticks next to these: By the force of which (prudently us'd) not onely an effervescency of somewhat contrary Hu∣mours (most agreeable to Man's nature) is bred in the small Gut, and afterward in the Heart; but the preternatural growing to∣gether, and uniting of the more sharp hu∣mours (being first moderated by them) is again dissolv'd in the Bloud.

I speak these things by experience, and because it is of great moment in practice, I commend them to the truly Studious of Physick.

If the Urine be bloudy, it testifieth the opening of some Vessel of Bloud in the Kid∣neys, Ureters, Bladder, or its Neck.

To heal and consolidate this harm the following is excellent.

Take the Waters of Parsley, Plantain, of * each two ounces; Cinamon-water, Syrups of Mirtles, Comfry, Marsh-mallows, of each half an ounce; Powder of Dragons-bloud, Page  268 red Coral prepar'd, of each ten grains; Lau∣danum opiat. three grains; Spirit of Niter ten drops; mix it, and give three or four spoonfulls every two hours.

If there be an Ulcer in any of these parts, it may perhaps be more happily cur'd by the daily taking of Balsam of Sulphur (made with the Oil of Amber, Juniper, Anise∣seed, or Turpentine) in any convenient Vehicle, than by any other Medicine hi∣therto known.

In all suppression of Urine, the following is very effectual.

Take the Waters of Chamomel, Golden∣rod, * Winter-cherries, of each four ounces; Syrups of Marsh-mallows, the five opening Roots, of each two ounces; Powder of Egg∣shells calcin'd one ounce; Tincture of Salt of Tartar two drachms; Spirit of Niter twenty drops; mix it, and give four spoon∣fulls every three hours.

CHAP. XXII. Of Extraordinary Pissing, &c.

THIS Distemper is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 i. e. pertransire, quod urina ureteres, & urethram subito pertransit.

It being a quick or plentifull pissing or making of water.

The cause is either external, or internal.

The external, or primary efficient Cause, * is an immoderate drinking of stale Beer, Sider, or acid Wines, either French or Rhe∣nish; by which an incurable Diabetes hath been ofttimes suddenly contracted.

The internal Cause of this Disease, is sharp, serous humours abounding in the Bloud, by which not onely the whole Mass of it doth in time become too thin, but the nervous Juice is also thereby ill affected, and consequent∣ly the Reins inflam'd, by the continual flow∣ing of the over acid serous humours: Whence the attractive faculty of the Kidneys is in∣creas'd, drawing the serosity of the Bloud more potently from the emulgent Vessels into the Funnels, and provoking the expul∣sive faculty, it is soon sent (through the Ureters) to the Bladder, from whence it is often evacuated by pissing.

Page  270 The signs are a continual pissing, so that much more moisture is voided, than is ta∣ken * into the Body, by eating and drink∣ing.

It is always accompanied with an extra∣ordinary Thirst; the sick is also feverish, something like a Hectick.

If it continue long, it will decay all the * radical moisture of the Body, which will render it incurable, but if it be taken in the beginning, and the Patient be young, it may be easily cured.

All things which have power to incrassate * the thinness of the Bloud, and temper the over acidity of the humours, may be admi∣nistred in this Distemper.

In the beginning of the Cure, after a stool hath been procured by an emollient Clyster, you may open a Vein in the Arm.

The next day a gentle Purge of Rhubarb may be administred; but if the Stomach be foul, and the sick can vomit easily, you may give an Antimonial Emetick with good success, because it will potently draw the sharp peccant humours from the emulgent Vessels and Reins, and evacuate some of them both by Vomit and Stool.

After the Operation of the Emetick, let the sick take two spoonfulls of this Cordial Opiate often, which will ease pain, and thicken the humours.

Page  271 Take the Waters of Barley, red Poppies, * of each four ounces; Cinamon-water, Sy∣rups of Coral, and Comfry, Penidies, of each one ounce; Gums Arabick and Dragon, of each half an ounce; Powder of Dragons∣bloud, red Coral prepar'd, of each one drachm; Laudanum opiatum six grains; let the Gums be dissolved in the distill'd wa∣ters, and strained, then mix all together ac∣cording to Art.

You may prescribe this, or such a like De∣coction, for the Patient's ordinary drink.

Take the Roots of China, Sarseparilla, * Comfry, Plantain, red Sanders, of each two ounces; Liquorish, red Roses, Hemp-seed, of each one ounce; Raisins of the Sun sto∣ned four ounces; let them be cleansed, brui∣sed and boiled in a Gallon of Fountain-water, till half of it be boiled away, then strain it, and keep it for use.

Let the Diet be cooling, and thickning Broths and Jellies made of Knuckles of Veal, with the Roots of China and Comfry boiled in it, is excellent.

You may also make Panado's of the a∣foresaid Broth, with a few Crums of White∣bread, and the Yelk of an Egg.

Also milk (wherein the aforesaid Roots are boiled) will be very effectual.

CHAP. XXIII. Of involuntary Pissing, commonly called pis∣sing in Bed.

WHEN the Urine floweth involuntarily (which in Children is vulgarly cal∣led * pissing in Bed) it may be called in La∣tin urinae incontinentia, pro impotentia sive imbecilitate retinendi.

The causes are either external, or internal. *

The external Cause is a large Wound in the sphincter Muscle of the Bladder, which sometimes happens in Lithotomy; for by extracting a great Stone, the sphincter Mus∣cle may be so much lacerated, that it ceaseth to be contracted, and the Orifice of the Bladder to be shut, wherefore the Urine dis∣tilleth of its own accord.

It may be caused internally by the Palsie, Apoplexy, Epilepsie, Syncope, &c. Some∣times Ebriety may be the Cause of the Reso∣lution of the Nerves, which from the Loins are inserted into the Neck of the Bladder, and so render the sphincter Muscle incapable of Contraction; hence the Urine is involun∣tarily voided.

In Children, this Distemper is curable, if * taken in time; but if it happen to old Folks, Page  273 or if it be caused by a Wound in the sphinc∣ter Muscle of the Bladder, it is incurable.

That which is caused by the Palsie, Epi∣lepsie, Syncope, &c. look for the Cure in * their proper Chapters.

If it be caused by Ebriety, Sobriety may be commended to cure it, especially by the help of inward means to strengthen the parts affected.

Many things have been given to Children, that have been troubled with this Distemper; the most effectual are these.

Fried Mice, the inner Skins of Hens-giz∣zards, Cocks-weasands, Pudenda suilla, Stones of a Hare, Snails with the shells, all or any of these dried and poudred; also the Pow∣der of Agrimony, Egg-shells, the burnt Ash∣es of an Hedge-hog, &c.

Any of these may be given in red Wine, or in Lime-water chalibeated, which may be dulcifi'd with Syrup of Comfry.

If Phlegm do abound in the Body, you may purge it with Phlegmagogues.

Also sweating with gentle Diaphoreticks, is very effectual.

Those already mention'd are proper, one∣ly consider the Age and Strength of the Pa∣tient.

CHAP. XXIV. Of the Stoppage of Urine, and the Stran∣gury.

THE Stoppage of Urine is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ab 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 comprimo, & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Urina.

'Tis called in Latin Urinoe suppressio.

The Strangury is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i. e. urinoe difficultas, vel urinoe per guttas excretionem. Ex 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 stilla, & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 urina.

These differ onely in degree, for when the Urine is totally obstructed, it may be called Ischuria, but when little is voided, and by drops, it may be called Stranguria.

These distempers may be caused by vis∣cous * Phlegm, or coagulated Bloud in the Ureters, or Urethra, especially if a Stone, or some Gravel do also stick in the Passage, by which the obstruction will be more strengthned.

Sometimes it is caused by a schirrous Tu∣mour, or other excrescency of Flesh, as a Carbuncle, &c. growing in the Urethra, or Chanel of Urine.

Sometimes it is caused by a preposterous holding in of the Urine, either, for shame or Page  275 want of opportunity to evacuate it; so that the Bladder being extremely fill'd and dis∣tended, it hath not power to contract it self, hence the voiding of Urine is supprest.

It may also be caused by sharp humours, fretting and ulcerating the internal Superfi∣cies of the Bladder, by which it is continu∣ally stirred up to contract it self, and expell the Urine which is in it; so that the Bladder is empty, having little or no Urine in it, as I have known by experience.

This may be called a Bastard Ischuria, which may be also caused by some hurt in the at∣tractive or expulsive faculty of the Reins.

If the aforesaid Causes be violent, it cau∣seth an Ischuria, but if remiss, then a Stran∣gury is stirred up, in which there is a per∣petual Irritation to extrude the Urine, al∣though slowly; and by drops, with exceeding pain and trouble.

Suppression of Urine is dangerous, and if * it continue long, it is mortal; especially if the Patient's Breath stinck of Piss, or hath a Hiccough, or Tenasmus.

If the Cause be in the Neck of the Blad∣der * or Urethra stopt, you may clear it, and draw away the Urine with a Catheter, as I have often done both from Men and Women with good success.

If the Cause be from the Reins or Ureters, Page  276 seek the Cure in the Chapter of Nephritick pains, &c.

Glutinous Phlegm, and coagulated Bloud, may be cut and attenuated with Aromaticks boild in Water or Wine, and mixed with oily volatile Salts, Spirit of Niter, &c.

Stone-Horse dung is rich in Volatile Salt, wherefore if you mix the Juice of it with Rhenish-wine, and drink it often, you will admire its wonderfull effects, in curing not onely Stoppage of Urine, but most other obstructions.

Those Diureticks prescrib'd in page 266, 267. are also very effectual here.

Let the Belly and parts affected be anoin∣ted with Dears-suet, which will conduce much to give ease.

When the Urethra is obstructed by a Ca∣runcle, &c. You must gently thrust in a hol∣low Instrument made of Lead or Silver, be∣ing first anointed with some consolidating Ointment.

You may leave the Instrument in, till the fear of a new Closing of the Passage be re∣mov'd.

CHAP. XXV. Of the Scalding or Sharpness of Urine.

THIS Distemper is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Urina.

The causes are either external, or inter∣nal. *

The external Cause may be by the Appli∣cation of Cantharides, or some other stronger Poison.

The internal Causes are sharp, salt and acid humours mixed with the Urine, which do corrode, and ulcerate the internal Su∣perficies of the Bladder, and sphincter Mus∣cle.

Sometimes it is caused by sharp Stones, occasioning an Ulcer.

If the Bladder, or sphincter Muscle, or the * Urethra be ulcerated, it is hard to be cured; especially if the Patient be old, and the Distemper hath continu'd long, & e contra.

If the Bladder or urinal Passage be ulce∣rated, * it may be effectually cured by the Bal∣sam of Sulphur, made with the Oil of Anise∣seed, Amber, or Juniper, taken to two or three drops, twice or thrice daily in any convenient Vehicle, especially a vulnerary Decoction, which is most effectual.

Page  278 The salt, acid, corroding humours may be corrected with Crabs-eyes, Perle, &c. and also all volatile oily Salts, taken often (in a small quantity) in any refrigerating Diu∣retick.

This Decoction is effectual.

Take the Roots of Mallows, Marsh-mal∣lows, * of each two ounces; Lettice, Endive, Purslain, Violets, of each one handfull; Jujubes, Sebestins, of each one ounce; Winter-cherries half an ounce; the four greater Cold-seeds, of each two drachms; red Roses, Water∣lillies, of each half a handfull, let them be cleansed, bruised and boiled in two quarts of Fountain-water, till half of it be boiled a∣way; then strain it, and add Syrups of red Poppies, Violets, of each two ounces; Lau∣danum opiat. ten grains; Oil of Vitriol ten drops; mix it, and give three spoonfulls every two hours.

An Emulsion of the Cold-seeds, or Cha∣momel-flowers boiled in Milk, is also very effectual.

If the Patient be costive, give emollient Clysters, or gentle Cholagogues, and Hy∣dragogues, to evacuate the peccant hu∣mours.

Or else you may give a gentle Emetick for Revulsion.

If the pain be very great, you may inject an Emulsion (made of the Cold-seeds) into Page  279 the urinal Passage, and anoint the Privities with unguentum Populion, &c.

CHAP. XXVI. Of Venereal Affects.

THIS Scourge of transgressing Huma∣nity, being as it were a Murrain, or common Destruction to venereous Persons, may be called in Latin Lues venerea, a 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 solvo, vel quod Corpus omnino dissolvit, vel quasi luens usque ad nihil. Lues enim ista, pestis est species, vel qualiscunque contagio, quoe homines * inficit, debito supplicio scelus luere.

The first Knowledge of this pocky intes∣tine Enemy (at least in the European parts of the World) was at the Siege of Naples, by the French; being brought thither (as some Authours affirm) by the Spaniards, that came with Christopher Columbus from the West Indies, and they like plaguy Persons that croud to infect others (contrary to their reserved temper) being inflam'd with a ve∣nereal Itching, and being also free of their flesh, they communicated (as a great rarity) this new found foul Distemper, to the Italian Women, which among others they had en∣grost Page  280 to themselves from the Animal Indians, in their American Tyrannical Conquests.

Many of those poor Creatures being deep∣ly infected with the monstrous Yaws (so called by the Indians) from whence this foul Distemper had its first original.

Hence it was first called the Neapolitan, and afterward the French disease; since which time, many of the precipitant youth∣full Europeans (to their great Costs and Pain) have been punished with this impure vene∣real Affect.

This Itch in spite of Mortals will be catch∣ing, (where there is no fear of God to re∣strain) but the beginning natural momen∣tany Pleasure, will often urge a smartfull end; so that this is the product of that sin of uncleanness, for which God hath pronoun∣ced, Hebrews 13. 4. Whore-mongers and Adulterers God will judge.

To describe this virulent contagious Di∣sease, It is an universal sour taint of the sper∣matick parts; the seed in the spermatick Vessels being first corrupted with a cold in∣digested Putridness, is sometimes conveyed outward to the groins, infecting the obscene parts with a filthy eating Crusty scab.

But if the poisonous malign quality (got∣ten by impure Coition) be transfer'd to the Liver, which is the chief Subject of its more easie invasion, and its special residence; it Page  281 must necessarily suffer egregious corruption, from whence the afflicting taint is dispersed into the whole habit of the Body, vitiating and corrupting the Nutrition of every part; by which the sick becomes wholly cachec∣tick, and the filthy Pox (without speedy help) tyrannizing with many malign Symp∣toms, and afflicting both the body and mind, doth at length hurry the Patient into the pit of silence.

The cause is chiefly, the carnal use of * venereous Persons.

Also Children sucking of those Nurses that are infected, may receive the pollution from the poisonous malignity of the milk.

It may also be Hereditary, the seed of venereous Parents being polluted.

The most apparent signs, are a dulness of * the whole Body, white face, intolerable pain between the joints, especially in the Night, which hindreth sleep; sometimes Buboes in the Groins, &c. As is before mention'd, also Ulcers, and hard Pustules in many parts of the Body, as Head, Chin, &c. there is sometimes a relaxation of the Uvula, with Hoarsness and Corruption of the Palate, and Tumours of the adjacent Glandulous parts, there is also sometimes a Cariosity of the Skull, and other Bones. Cum multis aliis.

Page  282 1. It is difficult of Curation, if it hath * continu'd long, or the Patient be consump∣tive; or if it be in a sucking Infant.

2. If it be Hereditary, 'tis incurable; but if the Patient be young, and newly infected, it may be easily cured.

As for the Cure of this filthy Disease, first * I advise the Patient to repent from the bottom of the Heart, for this great sin of uncleanness, &c.

Then make choice of an honest Physi∣cian.

The Cure is easiest effected in the Spring, or Fall of the Leaf; but if necessity urge, you may begin the Cure at any time.

First let the Body be prepared,

The following Apozeme may serve for Example in most constitutions.

Take the five opening Roots, Liquorish, * China, of each one ounce; Cinamon, Anise∣seed, Senna, of each half an ounce; Agarick, Rhubarb, Cream of Tartar, of each two drachms; let them be cleansed, bruised and boiled in two quarts of Fountain-water, till half be consumed; then strain it, and add Syrup of Roses solutive four ounces; Salt of Tartar vitriolated two drachms; Spirit of Niter twenty drops; mix it, and give six spoonfulls every two hours.

If the Patient be Plethorick open a Vein; after which you may purge with these or the like Pills.

Page  283 Take of Extractum Rudii, one scruple; * Mercur. dulcis, Salt Armoniack, of each half a scruple; make it into four Pills, and take them in the Morning.

If you perceive by the Excrements, that the Patient's body be very foul, you may administer another Dose of Pills after two days intermission.

Then you may prepare the following De∣coction, or one like it, to cause sweat, &c.

Take of Guiacum, the Roots of China, Sar∣separilla, * of each one pound; Raisins of the Sun stoned, Hermodactils, Polypodium, Barks of Guiacum and Sassaphras, of each four ounces; Juniper-berries, Anise-seed, Liquo∣rish, Elicampane-roots, of each one ounce; let them be cleansed, bruised and infused in four Gallons of Rain-water, very hot for the space of a Night; then boil it gently till a third part be boiled away; strain it, and keep it for use.

Let the sick take four spoonfulls of it, with ten grains of Antimonium diaphoret. every Morning and Evening, for four or five days following, and sweat after it in Bed, or in a Hot-house, or Bagnio, so long as can be well endured.

Then omitting a day or two, you may take another Dose of Pills; then sweat seven days more, after which purge as before; this doe for forty days, or till the Cure be per∣fected.

Page  284 You may make a second Decoction of the Ingredients, for ordinary drink.

But if the sick have extreme Pains in the Night, ten grains of the following Pills may be given to bed-ward instead of the Decoc∣tion.

Take Gum of Guiacum two drachms; Antimony Diaphoretick, Bezoar-mineral, * Flower of Brimstone, Diagredium, Mercur. dulcis, humane Bones calcin'd, of each one drachm; Saffron, Laudanum opiatum, of each half a drachm; with Syrup of Saffron, make it into a Mass for Pills.

If there be a Defluxion of Rheum on the Lungs, you may give ten or twelve drops of Balsam of Sulphur, in a little of the Decoc∣tion every Morning, and the like quantity with half a drachm of Venice-treacle every Night; after which drink four ounces of the aforesaid Decoction, to promote a gentle sweat.

You may also make Fontinels in the Arm and Leg with good success.

But if the sick be of a hot Constitution, and the Disease be inveterate, and stubborn; the shortest and best way of Cure will be by salivation.

I do not approve of unction with mer∣curial Ointments, to raise the Flux, nor Turbith-mineral to be given inwardly; but the safest way is to administer Mercur. dulcis, but Page  285 let it be well prepared. Then you may give twenty grains of it with a little Diascordium, or Conserves of Roses: give it three or four Mornings successively, and drink a draught of the Diet-drink after it.

Also the second Decoction may be some∣times made use of for ordinary Drink, all the time of the Cure; and warm Posset∣drink at other times, when desired.

When the Salivation is rais'd, let the sick have a piece of Gold between the teeth; and keep warm, and continue spitting till the Spittle become insipid, which is com∣monly in twenty days.

In the mean time, wash the Mouth with Plantain-water, and Syrup of Mulberries.

When you would abate the spitting, ad∣minister a Carminative Clyster, or a Clyster of Milk and Sugar every Night; and after its operation, give the following Bolus.

Take of Diascordium half a drachm; Gas∣coigns * powder fifteen grains; Oil of Vitriol two drops; with Syrup of Poppies make it into a Bolus; give it at Night going to bed.

Pustules, Tumours and Ulcers of the Mouth, Tongue, Gums, or any other Place, will be all easily cured, when the Salivation is over.

You may dress the sores with the follow∣ing Ointment, which is very effectual to cure all Pocky ulcers.

Page  286 Take of Verdigreece, and common Salt, of each two ounces; powder them, and * calcine them together; then mix it with eight ounces of Unguentum Enulatum.

When the filthy Enemy, or Neapolitan disease, is cast out by Salivation, you may sweat the Patient with the Decoction of China, &c. before mention'd, for sometime, as is there directed.

Let the Diet be drying; rost Meat is better than boil'd.

Mutton, Chickens, Partridges, Rabbets, &c. are all good Food.

When strength doth begin to increase, Bread and Raisins may be eaten.

The greater Symptoms of this Disease, are the Running of the Reins, Nodes, Ca∣runcles, &c.

The Running of the Reins is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ex 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 semen, & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 fluo, it being a Flux of natural Seed of Man or Woman unwittingly.

If the Gonorrhoea be virulent, it is a praelu∣dium to the Pox, and must be cur'd the same way; but if it be newly contracted, it may wholly and most safely be absolved by purgation.

The same Apozeme, and purging Pills, before mention'd, are very proper, which must be continu'd till the Running of the Reins cease.

Page  287 If the Patient be plethorick, let a Vein be opened.

To strengthen the spermatick parts, the following Balsamick Pills are effectual.

Take of Mummy, Bole Armenick, Gums * Dragon and Arabick, of each one ounce; Bal∣sam of Sulphur two drachms; with Syrup of dried Roses, make it into a Mass for Pills, of which you may give half a drachm every Morning and Evening.

If there be Nodes, Caruncles or Ulcers in the urinary Passage,

The following Medicine may be daily in∣jected.

Take the Water of the Spawn of Frogs * four ounces; Honey of red Roses one ounce; white Troches of Rhasis one drachm; pow∣der the Troches, and mix all together for an Injection.

After injection, put in an hollow Instru∣ment made of Silver or Lead, being first anointed with some consolidating Ointment, as was directed in the Stoppage of Urine.

I do not approve of Astringents in the Beginning of the Cure of a Gonorrhoea, till the Patient be well purged, and the running begin to cease; because all Astringent means conduce to prolong the Distemper; but af∣ter the Cause is eradicated by purging, then they may be safely administred, if the Cure be not effected without it.

Page  288 To prevent the Return of the Distem∣per, I advise the Patient to purge, and bleed every Spring and Fall.

Also keep a good Diet, be moderate in Exercise, and all other of the nonnatural things.

When thou art recovered, give God the Praise; and have a care of committing the like sin again, lest a worse thing befall thee; for it is a fearfull thing to fall into the Hands of the Living God. Hebr. 10. 31.

CHAP. XXVII. Of the Rachites, or Rickets.

THIS Disease may be called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

It may be called in Latin morbus spinalis, it being a Disease of the Spine of the Back.

This spinal Disease is commonly called in English Rickets.

It is peculiar to Children, because they abound with a crude phlegmatick matter; for if they labour under a cold moist Distem∣per, there is presently a Penury and Paucity of the Animal Spirits; for the Brain, cere∣bellum, and spinalis medulla, being more com∣pact Page  289 than is wont, is unfit for percolation, so that the most spirituous part of the Bloud cannot pierce, or be strein'd through it: Hence the separation of the Animal Spirits is diminisht.

For the aforesaid cold, moist, phlegmatick Humours, compacting the soft substance of the Brain, &c. it is thereby too much thick∣ned and straitned in its porous passages.

The coldness of Air, Water, or Snow, ve∣hemently affecting the Head, seems to con∣firm and prove this opinion; because when the Glandules of the Brain are affected and thickned by a stuffing of the Head with Coldness, then a more sparing production of the Animal Spirits useth to follow.

The essence of this Disease consists not onely in the Animal, and vital, but natural Constitution also, all the Functions being (in time) vitiated: For the spinalis medulla being primarily affected, all the Nerves which proceed from it (in its passage through the spina Dorsi) must of necessity be stupifi'd, and vitiated with a loose Feebleness; hence also all the nervous, membranous, and fi∣brous parts, through which those Nerves are carried, or inserted into, must conse∣quently be vitiated with an inward weak Slipperiness; so that the very ends of the bones, as well as all the Faculties of the Bo∣dy, bear a share in this Distemper.

Page  290 When the Rickets is confirm'd in Infants, it seems to have some affinity with divers other Diseases, viz. a Chronical fever, an extenuation or leanness of the Body, and an Hydrocephalus, and many more, which are frequently complicated with this affect.

And indeed not onely this, but most o∣ther * Diseases (in process of time) do unite unto themselves other affects of a different kind, and therefore (for the most part) there is a complication of Chronical diseases before Death.

The Causes are either external, or in∣ternal. *

The external may be any of the Non∣naturals exceeding, either in excess or de∣fect.

All things cold and moist do powerfully contribute to this Disease, especially an over cold and moist Air, which is most frequent in the Spring; the Air being then cloudy, thick, rainy, and full of vaporous Exha∣lations.

Hereupon the Children of those which inhabit near the Banks of the Sea, or great Rivers, Ponds or Marshes; (that are ob∣noxious to too much Rain, or are fed with a great Number of Springs) are more or less subject to this affect; for by the Con∣tinuance of such cold and moisture, the Bloud and Humours becomes too slippery, and Page  291 therefore (in their Circulation) they must unavoidably cause a softness and looseness in all the parts.

Also experience testifieth that those Chil∣dren which are born, and nursed near the Lead-mines in Derby-shire, &c. are generally affected more or less with a languidness of the Limbs.

For the Air being infected with noxiousme∣talline Exhalations, which (for the most part) fight against the inherent Spirits of the parts, by a kind of venemous malignity; by which the spirituous pulsificative Force of the external parts is extinguished, and the strength of the Limbs, and whole Body much weak∣ned and diminish'd.

Hither we may also refer fine soft Linen, applied actually cold and moist, (being not well dried by reason of the moistness of the weather) to the Spine of the Back, which is near the Original of the Nerves; the use thereof being too long continu'd, it cherish∣eth the Roots of this Disease in that tender Age.

Likewise Aliments of any kind, which are too moist and cold; or too thick, viscous and obstructive, do manifestly cherish this Distemper.

And I am induced to believe that Ebriety in English people, especially the Gentry; and eating of much Flesh; and not using frequent Page  292 labour, or exercise, may be a reason why this Disease is more common and natural to Children in England, than in other Regions, perhaps far exceeding it both in cold and moisture; as Scotland, Holland, &c. wherein this affect hath not been observ'd to be very common.

And therefore ebriety and eating of much Flesh, and defect of motion, and want of exercise doth most frequently, and most effectually concur to the production of it; because the inherent heat (in stupid and sluggish People) is not sufficient to resist and expell the superfluous moisture by a due transpiration: By which means the Circula∣tion of the Bloud is become slow and lesned, and the production of the vital heat very feeble, and weak; so that nature is thereby forced to permit all the parts of the Body to be affected with a certain softness, looseness, and internal lubricity, more than is meet; which do sufficiently evince, that this is an efficacious cause, and a part of the essence of this Disease.

Hence we may easily infer that the Chil∣dren of such Parents are more inclined to this distemper, than others who drink mo∣derately, and eat less Flesh, and are more active and lively.

The internal Causes, are excrementitious Humours luxuriant in the Body, especially Page  293 Phlegm and serous humours retained, and vitiated, being naturally cold and moist, and little spirituous, and affected with an internal slipperiness, wherefore upon a su∣perfluous accumulation of these humours, the production of this affect succeedeth; because thereby a Colliquation of the parts, and a dissipation of the inherent Spirits will be easily introduced; whereby all the parts will afterwards be rendred obnoxious to this cold and moist Distemper.

Many diseases preceding this affect, may be the cause of it; especially those which do extenuate, and much weaken the Body, as all Fevers, &c. And also all cold and moist, phlegmatick, and cachochymick Distempers, which will induce a stupour and dulness in the affected parts, and cause obstructions.

Also any great Pain, Inflammation, Tu∣mour, Fracture, Luxation, or any other pre∣ternatural affect, that hinders the standing and playing of the Child, may be some cause of this Disease.

Presently after the beginning of the Di∣sease, * a kind of slothfulness and numbness doth invade the Joints, and by little and little is increased, so that daily they are more and more averse from motion; besides in the beginning of this affect, there is usu∣ally observ'd, a certain laxity, softness, and flaccidity of all the first affected parts; af∣ter Page  294 which followeth a great debility, lan∣guidness, and enervation of all the parts subservient to motion; so that (for the most part) they speak before they walk, which is vulgarly held to be a bad Omen; and if it vehemently increase, they do not onely to∣tally lose the use of their Feet, but can scarce sit with an erected posture, and their weak and feeble Neck can hardly sustain the Bur∣then of the Head.

In the progress of the Disease, the Head and Face increaseth in bigness, but the fleshy parts below the Head, are daily more and more worn away.

There is also observ'd in this affect, cer∣tain swellings, and knotty excrescencies about some of the Joints; these are chiefly con∣spicuous in the Wrists, and somewhat less in the Ancles, and in the tops of the ribs; the Bones in the Armes and Legs, and sometimes the Thighs, and Shoulder-bones wax crook∣ed; the Teeth come forth slowly, and with greater trouble than usual, and at length the Breast becomes narrow, and the Abdomen swollen, with an extension of the Hypochondriacal parts, which hindreth the free motion of the Diaphragma downwards; and by consequence doth somewhat inter∣rupt the breathing, so that respiration be∣comes difficult, accompanied with cough∣ing, the Pulse being also weak and small; Page  295 and in the increase of the Disease, all these signs become more intense and evident, and many, and more grievous, are daily accu∣mulated.

1. If this Disease be light and gentle, the * Children affected therewith may be easily restored to health; sometimes by the sole benefit of Age, the vital heat being increa∣sed, and summoned forth to the external parts by the force of frequent exercises.

But if it so vehemently prevaileth, that the increase thereof cannot be prevented by the best internal means, and also most prudent applications, then there is immi∣nent danger.

2. If it proceed from other Diseases, or be complicated with them, it will be the more difficult of curation; especially if the Bones of the Armes, and Legs be crooked, and there be great bending and tumour of the Joints of the Wrists, Ancles and Ribs.

But if the Symptoms decline, and the Child do easily endure agitation, and have often eruptions in the Skin, as Wheals, Pim∣ples, or Itch, then there is great hopes of recovery.

3. If they be not cured in five years, they will grow deformed and crooked, and (for the most part) will become dwarfs, and live sickly, being either Cachectick, or Phthi∣sical, till death do put a Period to their mi∣serable Life.

Page  296 As for the Cure of this disease, both the Child and Nurse must keep a good diet * which is easie of Concoction.

In the mean time you must not neglect the best Chyrurgical and Pharmaceutical means which will most conduce to the spee∣dy recovery of the weakly Infant.

Universals being premised, the most effec∣tual and approved Chyrurgical means in this affect, are Incision or Scarification of the Ears, and little Fountains or Issues; al∣though many more may be used, viz. Frixi∣ons, Blisters, Ligatures, &c.

Incision or Scarification in the Ears, is to be performed on the Ridge, in the inside of the Ear above the hole; which must be stopt to hinder the Bloud passing into it.

This Operation must be often repeated, at least once or twice in a month; which hath proved successull when many other remedies have been ineffectual.

And here it may be noted, that Scarifica∣tion being made in that place, must needs be of greater efficacy than if it were instituted in any other part of the Ear, or elsewhere.

1. First, Because the beginning of the fifth pair of Nerves is near that place, many of their Branches being distributed through the hollow of the Ear, and are thence convey∣ed into the Spinalis medulla, from whence it shooteth out little Branches which accompa∣ny Page  297 the Nerves of the marrow of the Back, to the ends of the very Legs and Feet; as ma∣ny ingenious Anatomists have accurately ob∣serv'd.

Wherefore Scarification being there made, it is probable, that the matter (which com∣monly oppresseth the very beginning of that Nerve) is immediately evacuated, by which it is freed from obstruction; and having al∣so gotten vigour (being excited by the pain and Inflammation) it driveth out all stupid∣ness from within it; by which means the Branches of the Nerves from thence arising, which are communicated to the Spinalis me∣dulla, and many other parts may be in some measure excited also.

2. Because by this means, there is a par∣ticular evacuation of the Head, which is wont to be oppressed with fullness in this affect.

Besides, the Bloud being somewhat lesned, the thickness and toughness thereof must thereby be corrected; and (by consequence) an equal distribution of it promoved to a more regular nourishment of the parts.

Issues in the Neck are also much approved in this disease, because they very much con∣duce to lessen the unusual magnitude of the Head, and to evacuate the superfluous watriness thereof, and repress the inordi∣nate increase of the bones; also it manifestly Page  298 drieth up the too much humidity of the spi∣nal Marrow, exciteth heat, strengthens the Nerves, and expelleth the astonishment.

As for the Pharmaceutical or Physical means, you must be sure to cleanse the first passages either by Clysters, Vomits or Leni∣tive purgations.

When the Belly is Costive and the excre∣ments are hardned, or some flatuous hu∣mours afflict the Bowels with vehement pain, then Clysters are chiefly required; and they may also be injected before any preparation, Vomit or Lenitive purgation.

I need not prescribe any forms, because a little Milk and Sugar, with a few Anise∣seeds boiled in it may serve.

Also an Emollient or Carminative Clyster (that is gentle) may be injectrd when there is occasion.

Emeticks if well prepared, and prudently administred are very efficacious, and will conduce much to the Cure.

And here I again commend Antimonial Vomits before all others.

1. First, because they not onely power∣fully evacuate Crude or corrupt humours, and all manner of impurities contained in the Stomach by Vomit; but by an agita∣tion and commotion, raised in all the parts, especially in the Bowels, they loosen the gross and viscous humours adhering to the Page  299 Guts, and convey them through their many involutions and labyrinths, by which they are expelled by Stool; in which respect they are also profitable against torments of the Colick, and very conducible to unlock obstructions.

2. They most effectually irritate the ex∣pulsive faculty of all the parts of the Body, by which they compell forth the hidden and unappearing causes of diseases, especi∣ally of intermitting Fevers; for by the very straining to Vomit, the Guts are also in∣stimulated to cast out by siege; the Liver poureth away the Choler by the Biliar pore; the juice of the Pancreas is voided into the small Guts; the Spleen perhaps doth unbur∣then its excrement into the Stomach; the Kidneys exern through the Ureters; the Lungs by a strong Cough eject their Phlegm through the Wind-pipe; the Head emptieth it self of salt waterish Rheums by the Palate, Nostrils and Eyes; finally the whole Body (for the most part) is rendred more prone to a Diaphoresis, either by a manifest sweat∣ing, or else by insensible transpiration.

If any are afraid of Antimonial prepara∣tions (though most safe and potent) they may administer Salt of Vitriol, from five to ten grains, either in Posset-drink or any o∣ther convenient Vehicle.

Also the following may be safely admi∣nistred.

Page  300 Take the clarified Juice of Asarabacca half a drachm; Syrup of the Juice of Sorrel * two drachms; mix it, and give it in the morning fasting.

But here we may note, that vomiting is * not to be provoked in very weak Children, unless they are naturally apt to Vomit, and the humours tend upwards of their own ac∣cord, and they easily indure it; and then they ought to be gentle and given in a small dose.

Those that are averse to vomiting may take lenitive Catharticks, which must be made pleasant and potable, that the young Patient may not loath the taking of them.

Manna, Syrup of Cichory with Rhubarb, Syrup of Violets and Syrup of Roses solutive are all good pleasant medicines; which you may mix according to your discretion, in any proper distill'd water, or in the decoc∣tion of sennoe Gereonis.

The following drink is of excellent virtue, and will conduce much to the Cure of this disease.

Take of Anise-seed, the Barks of Ash, Ivie, * Tamarisk, Shavings of Harts-horn and Ivo∣ry, the Roots of Sassaphras, Liquorish, Chi∣na, Sarseparilla, Butterbur, of each half an ounce; Mace one drachm; let them be clean∣sed, bruised and infused in two quarts of small Ale for two or three days; then strain Page  301 it out very strongly, and bottle it up for the Child's ordinary drink.

In the Cure you must endeavour to re∣sist all symptoms, as Fluxes, Worms, Venereal affects, breeding Teeth with great pain, &c.

In any Flux, Gripes or urgent pain, you may give half a grain of Laudanum opiat. dis∣solved in any convenient Vehicle, so often as necessity urgeth.

If Worms or venereal affects be fear'd, you may sometimes adminster this gentle purging Bolus.

Take of Mercur. dulcis six grains; Diagre∣dium, * Rezin of Jallop, of each three grains; with Syrup of Roses solutive, make it into a Bolus; give it in the morning fasting.

In your Broths and Panadoes, you may boil Harts-tongue, Ceterach, Liver-wort, Maiden-hair, Sage, the Bark of Tamarisk, red Sanders, Saffron, the Roots of China, and Sarseparilla, &c. but let all things be made acceptable to the Palate.

All kinds of exercise unto which Children are accustomed, may be usefull in their time and season; as Rocking, Going, Swinging, Playing, &c.

Also Frixions are excellent, in which be∣gin at the Spina dorsi, and rub with a course warm linen Cloth, and also under the Short-ribs, and afterwards all other parts; let it be done gently, to cherish and incite Page  302 the natural and vital heat, and attract the Nourishment to the affected parts.

External Medicines may be also applied, to strengthen the weak parts, as Emplasters, Ointments, &c.

These forms may serve for Example.

Take Ointments of the opening Juices, * Tobacco, Marsh-mallows; Oils of Capers, Wormwood, Elder, Earth-worms, Bricks, Balsam of Peru, of each half an ounce; mix it.

With which let the weak parts be anointed with a warm hand, before a Fire.

Take the Plasters Nervinum, De minio, ad * Herniam, of each one ounce; the Carmina∣tive Plaster of Sylvius, Balsam of Peru, of each two drachms; mix it, and spread it on thin Leather.

It may be applied to the Back, or any o∣ther weak part after anointing.

If the Lungs be affected, anoint the Breast with the following Ointment.

Take the pectoral Ointment two ounces; * Oil of Mace by expression, Oil of Violets, of each half an ounce; mix it.

After which apply a Plaster.

They that desire more variety of Medi∣cines, &c. let them peruse that excellent and learned tract of the Rachites written by the famous Doctours and Fellows of the College of Physicians at LONDON.

Ornari res ipsa negat, contenta doceri.

CHAP. XVIII. Of the Gout, and Rheumatism.

THE Gout is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ab * 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Articulus, quod Articulos infestet; hence it is called in Latin Articularis morbus, it being a Disease of the Joints.

This is a general Name for all Gouts, or when all or most of the Joints are affected.

But when any particular Joint is infested with a Gouty distemper, it doth from thence take its denomination.

For if it invadeth the Jaw-bones, it may be called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ex 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 maxilla, & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 soevio, quod maxillarum usum im∣pediat. It being (for the most part) ac∣companied with a fierce and cruel Pain.

And so likewise if it invade any of the rest of the Joints.

If the Vertebroe of the Neck, &c. be affected, it may be termed 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ex 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 collum, vel cervix, &c.

That which molests the Shoulders, may be fitly called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ex 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 humerus. &c.

If it affects the Collar-bones, you may call it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ex 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 clavis, vel clavicula, &c.

That in the Elbow may be termed 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ex 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 cubitus, &c.

Page  304 The Gout in the Hand is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ex 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 manus, &c.

That in the Hip may be called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ab 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 coxa, &c. quod ab 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 lumbus.

In Latin Coxendicum dolor, quod coxendices proecipue infestat.

If it be in the Knee 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ex 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 genu, &c. If in the Foot 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ex 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 pes, & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 soevio, Quod pedum usum impediat, which may be added to every particular.

This and all other Gouts are most com∣monly accompanied with a fierce, cruel, tor∣menting pain; and thus much, if not too much of the Names of the Gout.

The Causes are either external, or inter∣nal. *

The external Causes are Gluttony, Drun∣kenness, immoderate Venery, Idleness, ex∣ternal Cold, and excess or defect of any of the non-naturals.

The internal Cause of all Arthritick pains, is the Juice of the Pancreas too acid and sharp, which raiseth a vitious Effervescency with Choler, &c. whereby a Fermental sharp∣ness is increased; and when it is exorbi∣tant, it is sent forth into the extreme parts, and meeting with that seedy Glue, which is between the Joints, doth not onely affect it with its fermental Acrimony, but is also the grand Cause of the virulent tormenting pain and inflammation in the part affected.

Page  305 But seeing the pains are different, not one∣ly in divers People sick of this Distemper, but also the Pains of the Gout are divers in the same sick party, we must therefore, as well by reason as experience, search in∣to the true Cause thereof.

Therefore in as much as the present mo∣lesting pains, are not always freed with the same medicines, no not in the same fit; much less all that are Gouty.

We may hence consider that divers hu∣mours, as Choler, Phlegm, &c. are diversly mixt and fermented with the Juice of the Pancreas, which is peccant in a sour Acri∣mony, being the primary Cause of all Gouts.

And here we may note, that this over acid * humour doth molest the sick (chiefly in the beginning of the fit) with a corroding pain; but after a while, when Choler (by its ex∣ceeding heat) hath gotten the Predominan∣cy, it causeth a divers burning pain, accor∣ding to the diversity of its faultiness.

But if viscous Phlegm be predominant, the pain is much dull'd, and the motion of the part hinder'd with a phlegmatick Tumour, rather than an acute pain; which ought to be accurately observ'd by every ingenious Artist.

When the Gouty humour hath invaded * any joint, there is presently an unusual heat, and more exquisite sense in it, than formerly, Page  306 so that the least touch of any hard thing doth hurt the part; and the longer it continues, the more the Pain increaseth, with redness and swelling of the part affected, and most commonly attended with a Symptomatical Fever.

1. The Gout is a Chronical disease, atten∣ded * with violent Pain, but is seldom mor∣tal, except in very weak Bodies that are much decay'd by Sickness, or old Age.

2. If it continue long, till the Joints are knotty, it is incurable, according to Ovid,

But if there be no Knots in the Joints, and the Patient is laborious, and the Body is (for the most part) soluble, and there be swelling of the Veins called Varices, then it may be happily cured.

3. If it becomes habitual to the sick, the morbifick Idea is implanted in the vital Spi∣rit, and transfer'd through the seed, which makes it Hereditary.

The Cure of the Gout will consist, *

• 1. First in defending the afflicted Joints, as well against future Pain, as freeing them from that which doth molest at present.
• 2. In the universal amendment of the juice of the Pancreas.
• Page  307 3. In the correcting and evacuation of the vitious Choler.
• 4. In the altering and diminishing of Phlegm any way peccant.

To asswage the present Pain I commend the following Medicaments, which will conduce much to mitigate the sharpness of the acrimonious humours in all Gouty peo∣ple, and ease the part affected.

When there is excessive heat, you may bathe the Gouty part with this Fomentation very hot, with wollen Stuphs, which must be often renewed.

Take the Waters of the Spawn of Frogs, * Fumitory, Elder, of each one quart; Vine∣gar of Mary-golds one pint; Opium, Cam∣phire, of each half an ounce; mix it accor∣ding to Art.

But when the Pain is more corroding than burning, I commend the following to be used as the former.

Take of Treacle-water half a pint; the Waters of the Spawn of Frogs, Parsley, of each one quart; Opium, Camphire, of each half an ounce; mix it.

After Bathing with either of these; apply this Cataplasm.

Take Powders of the Roots of Marsh∣mallows, * Flax-seed, Barley-meal, of each four ounces; new Milk three pints; boil it to the Consistence of a Pultess, and add Oils Page  308 of Flax-seed, Earthworms, the Ointment Martiatum, of each three ounces: Camphire half an ounce; mix it according to Art.

Where exceeding heat doth concur, and the Body abounds with sharp Choler; instead of sweet Milk, you may substitute Butter∣milk.

Also a Pultess made of the Crums of White-bread, new Goats or Cows milk and Saffron, with Oil of Lin-seed, and Earth-worms, may be deservedly commended, to asswage any Pain.

If the sick be very phlegmatick, and im∣potency of motion doth afflict, more than pain; then Opiats may be omitted, and things more Aromatical may be used in all external Applications.

The following Pultess, or one like it, may serve for Example.

Take the Powders of Orris-roots; the * Flowers of Chamomel, and Elder, Cum∣min-seeds, Barley-meal, of each four ounces; the Tops of Wormwood, Mints, of each four handfulls; boil them in two quarts of water of the Spawn of Frogs, to the Consistence of a Pultess; when it is almost cold, add Treacle-water, Oils of Chamomel, Earth-worms, of each three ounces; mix it.

Also the Root of Briony, and Cuckow∣pintle bruised, and made into a Pultess with Cow-dung is excellent.

Page  309 If you add Volatile Salts of Animals, or Vegetables to your Medicines, whether Fomentations, Cataplasms, or Ointments, they will be the more effectual.

You may prepare an excellent Volatile Salt of Earth-worms (of great Virtue) for the Gout, which may be resolved into Li∣quour by fermentation, and putrefaction.

If the Gouty Patient do abound with Phlegm, or the Juice of the Pancreas exceed in an acid Acrimony causing a corroding Pain; it may happily be mitigated and re∣mov'd with Balsam of Sulphur made with Oil of Amber, with which let the grieved part be embrocated, and it will forthwith raise a very hot Effervescency, which will presently cease again, and remove the great Pain in a moment, even to admiration.

After the pain is over, you may apply one of the former Cataplasms, or some Anodyne Ointment, to comfort, and (by degrees) restore again the membranous parts.

The following Linament may serve for Example.

Take Oils of Earth-worms, Scurvigrass, * Saint John's-wort, of each one ounce; Chy∣mical Oils of Rosemary, Rue, of each twenty drops; mix it.

Afterwards, you may apply a Plaster of De minio cum sapona.

Page  310 In the mean time, inward means (to take away the Cause, and ease the pain) must not be neglected.

If the Patient have a plethorick Body, after a Stool hath been procured, by a Car∣minative Clyster, with Electuar. Caryocosti∣num, &c. Let a Vein be opened.

Bloud drawn from the Vena poplitis, or sciatica Vein, hath been succesfull in the sciatica.

But Leeches applied to the Hemorrhoidal veins, are effectual in all Gouts.

Two or three days after bleeding, you may administer the following Pills.

Take of Pills Hermodactils, faetidae, ex * duobus, Mercur. dulcis, of each one scruple; mix it for two doses, and give them in the Morning fasting.

Or you may give half a drachm or two scruples of pul. Arthriticus in any convenient Vehicle.

But if the sick be inclining to vomit, ad∣minister an Antimonial Emetick.

You may purge and bleed so often as you see occasion.

Issues near the part affected, and also to raise Blisters upon the part, have been found by experience to be very effectual.

Also bathing and sweating in nitrous or sulphurous Baths, either natural or artifici∣al, are much approv'd of.

Page  311 That which is prescrib'd in the Chapter of the Belly-ach, is very effectual, which may be used, as is there directed.

I might fill a Volume with receipts against the Gout, but I shall onely commend the following water or spirit to be often taken inwardly in any fit Vehicle, the quantity of half a spoonfull at a time.

Take the Roots of Orris, Angelica, Saffa∣phras, * of each two ounces; the Tops of Ground-pine, Penny-royal, Sage, Mother of Time; the Flowers of Saint Johns-wort, Chamomel, Prim-roses, Rosemary, Laven∣der, of each three handfulls; the Berries of Bays and Juniper, of each one ounce; Castor two drachms; let them be all cleansed, brui∣sed and infused in six quarts of Spirit of Earth-worms compound for the space of twenty four hours, then distill it in an Alem∣bick according to Art.

The Rheumatism is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, * ex 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 fluo; it being a distillation of Rheumatick humours, not onely affecting the Joints, but the adjacent parts, yea some∣times the whole Body; especially the Mus∣cles, Membranes, and Periostium of the Thighs, Legs, and Hip-bones.

The humour is of a very malign Nature, and soon causeth a Cariosity of the Bones, if it be not prevented.

Page  312 The Cause is the same with the Gout, but sharper. *

'Tis seldom mortal, but may be of long * continuance, with great Pain, so that the Sick cannot endure to be touched.

In the Cure of this Distemper, Phleboto∣my * must be often repeated, and carmina∣tive Clysters often administred.

Foment the pained parts with stale Urine (made very hot) wherein Castle-sope is dissolved; after which anoint with this fol∣lowing.

Take Spirit of Salt Armoniack, Oils of * Guiacum, Bricks, of each two ounces; in which dissolve Opium one ounce; Spanish Sope four ounces; then add Oil of Roses six ounces, and make it a Linament according to Art.

If you would have it for a Plaster, you may add so much Empl. de minio to it, as will give it a sufficient Consistency.

The Medicines and Directions prescrib'd in the Cure of the Gout, are also proper here.

From these few observations, it will not be very difficult to select other choice Me∣dicines out of the writings of Practitioners, to cure both the Gout and Rheumatism.

To prevent a Relapse, purge and bleed Spring and Fall, and keep a good Diet, and use moderation in all things.

Page  313 I have now finisht this little Tract, or Ma∣nual of Physick, which I have written for the common good; not onely to serve young Beginners of the Art of Physick, but also for the sake of the sick themselves.

GOD grant that it may prove succesfull, and tend to the good of them both.

Now unto the onely wise God and our Saviour Jesus Christ with the Holy Ghost our Comfor∣ter; three Persons, and one God, be ascribed, and given all Laud, Honour, Glory and Domi∣nion, from this time forth, and for evermore.